A NEW YORKSHIRE COAL-FIELD. 45 
Whether, then, these ‘Upper Drift Sands and Gravels’ of 
Northumberland are the deposits in question or not, it seems obvious 
that, granting a Glacial period, an extensive set of irregular river- 
deposits must have been laid down on the boulder-clay at its close. 
A reference to the ‘Ice Age in North America’ will show that 
the above suggested explanation is practically identical with that 
proposed for similar deposits in North America. Thus on pp. 526-7 
is found the following passage :—‘ Towards the close of that [Glacial] 
period, when the land had resumed its present level and the ice had 
nearly all disappeared south of the Catskills, the still swollen stream 
brought down the superabundant loose material from the kames and 
moraines of the glaciated area and deposited it in the valley below. 
The materiai was so abundant that doubtless the whole channel was 
silted up, so that the bed of the river was considerably above that it 
now occupies. At Trenton it flowed over and through an extensive 
delta of coarse gravel forty feet above its present level ; and, above 
‘Trenton, over an accumulation of gravel from 15 ft. to 20 ft. above 
the present high-water mark.’ 
In conclusion, I am far from wishing to apply the above 
hypothesis to a// the sands and gravels of Northumberland. The 
accumulation of these on the surface of the land has been a con- 
tinuous process, and they are of all ages from the Glacial epoch to 
the present day. It may even be suggested that some of these 
deposits may be Preglacial; although it is probable that the first 
work of the ice would be to clear away most of the pre-existing 
superficial accumulations. 
t the period, and by the means, I have indicated, however, the 
surface accumulation of sand and gravel was much more active than 
it has been since. As the liberated water cleared away the glacial 
débris, and the gradually diminishing rivers formed fresh channels 
for themselves, their deposits of sand and gravel, lessening in amount, 
gradually merged into those of the present day ; so that it is difficult, 
or perhaps, rather, impossible, to make an exact classification of Post- 
glacial river-gravels. ee 
NOTES AND NEWS. 
ong recently-elected shag “es of the Geological Society we notice 
Dr. rea st FAAS son of York, Rev. E. Jones of Em pon lg Skipton, Mr. P. L. 
Davies of Liverpool College, and ene north-country nam 
now promised a new Yorkshire ota field. At a meeting of land- 
district, but that coal might be met with within a — de om A committee 
has been formed with de view of sinking a shaft on atever be 
aa a from a commercial standpoint, geologists will ak ‘the results with 
in 
— oa 
