99 



Sketch of the Geology of the Howick Coast and Ratcheugh Crag, 

 visited by the Club on the Mh of August, 1852. By George 

 Tate, F.G.S. 



The geological features of the coast from Cullernose to Howick 

 Burn and of Ratcheugh, which were this day examined by the 

 Club, are entitled to more than a passing notice ; for there is no 

 part of the country which presents, within so limited an area, 

 a greater number of important and interesting geological phe- 

 nomena. 



A cliff, facing the sea, extends from Cullernose on the north 

 to Howick Burn, varying in height from 20 to 120 feet. The 

 rocks are limestone, shale, coal, and sandstone, belonging to the 

 carboniferous formation, intersected by basaltic and clay dikes, and 

 covered over, in one part, with a great overflow of basalt. Cul- 

 lernose is the southern termination on the coast of this overflow, 

 and rises in majestic columns of basalt from the sea to the height 

 of upwards of 100 feet. The name seems descriptive of its high, 

 exposed situation ; Nose, Ness, and Naise indicating a promontory 

 or cape, and Culler being probably another form of Caller, used 

 in Northumberland and Scotland to express such an amount of 

 cold as would be experienced when a strong wind is blowing over 

 high ground. A gritty sandstone is visible at low water under- 

 lying this basalt, which along with the stratified rocks dip to- 

 wards the north-east. Basalt extends along the iron-bound coast 

 northward to Dunstanborough, where it forms another lofty cliff, 

 under which the sandstones, coal, shale, and limestone are again 

 found. Sandstones and shales, torn from their beds by the vol-' 

 canic outburst, are mingled in a confused mass with basalt on 

 the south side of Cullernose. Limestones and calcareous shales 

 pass under the sandstone ; they are much contorted, and undulate 

 in a succession of ridges and hollows along the shore. These 

 beds contain an abundance of remains of marine animals. In 

 the calcareous shales, which are similar in mineral character and 

 organic contents to the " Calp " in Ireland, there are many fossils, 

 several of them being coated over with iron pyrites, or sulphuret 

 of iron ; when recently washed by the tide, the dark grey rocks 

 seem studded with golden ornaments. The following are some 

 of the fossils which have been found, and will give an idea of 

 the fauna of this ancient sea : viz. — 



Cyathophyllum fungites. Fenestella plebeia, M'Coy. 



Cyathaxonia costata, M'Coy. Cyathocrinus planus, Miller. 



Glauconome pluma, Phil. Serpulites membranaceus, M'Coy. 



pulcherrima, M'Coy. Phillipsia mucronata, M'Coy; the 



Fenestella membranacea, Phil. trilobed tails are abundant ; occa- 



— undulata, Phil. sionally portions of the head and 



