INVERKEITH1NG-ST DAVIDS. J 25 



We shall now describe the geological phenomena which 

 are to be observed on that part of the coast of Fifeshire 

 which lies immediately opposite to the county of Edin- 

 burgh. It is one of the interesting tracts annually visited 

 and explained to his pupils by Professor Jameson. 



The North Queensferry is situated on a promontory com- 

 posed almost entirely of greenstone, the felspar of which 

 sometimes becomes of a brick-red colour, and occurs in a 

 quantity sufficient to produce the syenitic aspect. In struc- 

 ture, it very generally exhibits the globular concretionary 

 arrangement ; the concretions varying in size from an inch in 

 diameter, to an irregularly formed mass of several feet in 

 length and breadth. On the road between the North Ferry 

 and Inverkeithing there are several fine displaysof this struc- 

 ture, and the atmospherical agents having acted on the soft- 

 er and more easily decomposed base of greenstone, cause 

 the globular masses to stand out in strong relief. Contem- 

 poraneous veins of greenstone traverse in considerable num- 

 bers indiscriminately the globular concretions and the bases 

 in which they are imbedded. Veins of calcareous spar also 

 occur : these, however, never cross the globular concretions 

 of greenstone. In regard to the connexion of this body of 

 trap with the sandstone, there are no intimate relations ex- 

 hibited ; near the toll-house between Inverkeithing and the 

 Ferry, sandstone strata, dipping N. N.W. at 20°, are visi- 

 ble in a small bay which is entirely surrounded by trap. 

 On proceeding along the shore from Inverkeithing to St 

 Davids, a junction of the greenstone with the slate-clay and 

 bituminous shale has been exposed in searching for coal ; 

 no induration is, however, evinced, but, on the contrary, 

 the strata appear to have a greater tendency to decompo- 

 sition when near the trap than in those parts farther re- 

 moved from it. 



