119 



contain some fossils hitherto considered distinctive of the transition 

 epoch, in particular the Trilobites, which I have designated, some 

 crinoidal remains, &c. But having in my later researches discovered 

 between that limestone (in a part of its extent) and the transition 

 series, a well-characterized formation of old red sandstone, the 

 anomaly disappears, and we have in regular succession, the old red 

 sandstone, carboniferous limestone, and the coal measures, which 

 last I find also supported in other quarters by the carboniferous lime- 

 stone, except where they directly conjoin the transition series. I 

 am now, therefore, convinced that both the North and South Mun- 

 ster coal tracts are alone referrible to the great carboniferous 

 order." 



February 4th. — M. B. Cowie, M. D., of Mecklenburgh- Street, 

 Mecklenburgh-Square ; William Moody, Esq. of King's Bench 

 Walk, Temple ; Samuel Jones Lloyd, Esq, of New Norfolk-Street, 

 Park- Lane, and Alexander Nasmyth, Esq., of George- Street, Ha- 

 nover-Square; were elected Fellows of this Society. 



A paper was read, " On certain Coal Tracts in Salop, Worcester- 

 shire and North Gloucestershire," by Roderick Irapey Murchison, 

 Esq. V.P.G.S. 



Pursuing the inquiry in descending order, commenced at the last 

 Meeting, the author calls attention to certain undescribed carboni- 

 ferous districts, the outlines of which he has laid down upon the 

 Ordnance Maps. 

 I. " Shrewsbury or upper Coal-measures with Jresh'water Limestone.'' 



The author takes this opportunity of showing, that the coal- 

 measures near Shrewsbury, which he formerly described* as con- 

 taining a subordinate band of lacustrine limestone, pass up con- 

 formably into the lower member of new red sandstone, and are thus 

 proved to constitute the uppermost portion of the carboniferous 

 series. He has this year discovered this freshwater limestone (with 

 the same minute Planorbis, &c.,) in a thin zone of coal-measures 

 extending from Tasley near Bridgnorth to Coughley near Broseley, 

 where the strata, like those near Shrewsbury, also dip conformably 

 beneath the lower new red sandstone. Mr. Prestwich has ascertained 

 that some of the great beds of coal of the Broseley and Colebrook- 

 dale field are worked beneath this limestone. 



II. Western Coal-Jield of Salop. 



The Oswestry coal-field, lying on the western borders of Shrop- 

 shire, is completely separated from that of Shrewsbury, and is the 

 southern termination of the carboniferous zone, which extends from 

 Flintshire by Ruabon and Chirk. It is of small extent, and little 

 productive, containing only one bed of good coal. The millstone 

 grit, which rises from beneath it on three sides, is remarkable for 

 containing beds of cherty breccia, courses of sandy, encrinital lime- 

 stone, and in the lower portion strata of thick-bedded, red sandstone, 

 in parts undistinguishable from the new red sandstone. The carbo- 



* Geo!. Proceedings, vol.i. p. 472. 



