332 [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



" CARRICKFERGUS SALT BEDS." 



The weekly meeting was held on 1st March — Mr. Robert 

 Patterson, F.Z.S., M.R.I.A., Vice-President, in the chair. Mr. 

 Greorge E. Reilly read a paper entitled " The Carrickfergus 

 Salt Beds." He pointed out that the existence of salt in this 

 district was unknown till the year 1845, when the Marquis 

 of Downshire, in searching for coal, found the deposits of salt 

 at a depth of 550 ft. Mines were opened near Duncrue, and 

 are still working. Other sinkings have been made, all within 

 a distance of about two miles, and salt found in some places. 

 "Volcanic energy may account for the displacement of the 

 marl beds, in which the salt always occurs. Carrickfergus 

 Castle itself sits on an intrusive dyke of basalt, which can be 

 traced some miles inland. Another such dyke crops out oil 

 the beach at Boneybefore. Rock salt is found at different 

 depths, from 300 feet to 1,000 feet, below the surface of the 

 ground, sometimes in one, two, or three seams, varying in 

 thickness from 12 feet to 100 feet. These seams are inter- 

 spaced by bands of blue and red marl, more or less mixed 

 with salt. The lecturer expressed his indebtedness to the 

 managers of the various mining companies and to the mine 

 officials for opportunities of investigation for information 

 freely placed at the disposal of the Field Club. Exhibits of 

 various classes of rock salt and the marls in which they occur 

 were made; also sections of the workings and photographs 

 taken in the mines by flashlight by Mr. A. R. Hogg. An 

 interesting and instructive discussion followed Mr. Reilly's 

 paper. 



'' DEEP SEA LIFE." 



The usual weekly meeting was held in the Club-room on 

 8th March— the Vice-President (Mr. Robert Patterson, 

 M.R.I.A.) in the chair. Professor Gregg Wilson, D.Sc, gave 

 a lecture on '' Deep Sea Life," and there was a good attend- 

 ance of members. 



Dr. Wilson called attention to the fact that a very large 

 part of the sea is deep, the great ocean basins varying from 



