1845.] BINNEY ON THE NEW RED SANDSTONE. 23 



two to four inches, besides others of less dimensions. All these lime- 

 stones and marls are full of the usual magnesian limestone fossils, 

 similar to those found at Newtown, and figured in the first volume 

 of the Transactions of the Manchester Geological Society ; but the 

 first-named strata do not contain a trace of magnesia. By the kind- 

 ness of Mr. H. Blair, I am enabled to give the following analysis, 

 made by Mr. Hugh Watson, chemist, of Bolton, of a specimen of 

 this limestone from Bedfrid, the adjoining parish to Atherton : — 



Carbonate of lime 56'5 



Aluminous and siliceous earths 38*5 



Oxides of manganese and iron 2*5 



Water 2*5 



100-0 



The dip of these strata is to the south, at an angle similar to that 

 of the upper new red sandstone. In proceeding up the brook-course 

 towards the mill, however, their dip becomes greater, reaching to an 

 angle of 16°, and is to the south-west instead of to the south. They 

 are succeeded by the lower new red sandstone, seven yards in thick- 

 ness. This rock dips to the south-west at an angle of 25°, which 

 gradually diminishes to 16° as it approaches the coal-measures. The 

 last-named strata cannot be traced for a few feet to the north-east, 

 but when they are seen they incline to a little north of west, at an 

 angle varying from 12° to 15°. As you proceed further towards 

 the mill, however, they are found not to have been so much affected 

 by the fault, and recover their regular dip to the south-west at an 

 angle of 16°. The fault which has thrown up the lower new red 

 sandstone runs from south-east to the north-west, and has, no doubt, 

 considerably disturbed both the new red sandstone and carbonife- 

 rous strata in its neighbourhood. 



The condition of the lower new red sandstone in one part of the 

 rock is very remarkable, and exhibits every appearance of having 

 been subjected to great heat and pressure. Part of it is converted 

 into a hard crystalline rock, which displays scarcely any trace of the 

 nearly incoherent sand of which it is usually composed, while other 

 portions of it seem to have had a metallic matter resembling iron 

 pyrites injected into it. The rock also presents numerous slides or 

 polished surfaces, so frequently met with near faults. However, there 

 is one bed left which retains all the usual characters both as to co- 

 lour and grain of the rock, and clearly identifies it with the lower 

 new red sandstone. After examining the rock, scarce any one can 

 doubt that it has been subjected to great heat ; still there is no 

 visible trace of any trap dyke near it ; so probably the alteration of 

 the stone has been produced by heat developed on the upheaving of 

 the strata, and is due to friction alone. The sides of many faults 

 far removed from igneous rocks often give evidence of tlie action of 

 intense heat upon then), which in my opinion can only be accounted 

 for by the great heat developed by the violent friction of some parts 

 of the rocks against other parts. 



