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Miscellanea Geologica,for 1866, By George Tate, F.G.S. 



Plants and animals observed at the meetings of the Club 

 are noticed in the proceedings ; but it is not less in accord- 

 ance with the original design of the Club to record observa- 

 tions made on the strata beneath the surface and on the 

 organisms entombed in the rocks. As less has been done in 

 this department of Natural History than in others, there lies 

 open a wide field of research, which, if properly cultivated, 

 may yield new and interesting results. Especially in the 

 districts where coal has been worked, valuable information 

 may be gathered ; for many of the pit sinkings furnish exact 

 accounts of the succession of the strata, of which Ave from 

 other sources have but imperfect information. From one 

 district I shall give sections ; but there are many others, 

 which, if printed, would prove useful guides in further re- 

 searches into our mineral treasures. 



Eglingham. 



Though the hills around Eglingham and Bewick look barren 

 of geological information, yet they are not devoid of interest, 

 especially now, when the question is keenly discussed — how 

 long will our coal fields last? for over this district are spread 

 several coal seams, of which little has been recorded. The 

 strata here belong to the mountain limestone formation, 

 which in Northumberland (exclusive of the rocks forming 

 the Tuedian group), has a thickness of about 2600 feet ; but 

 this mass of strata may be arranged in two divisions, both 

 belonging to the same era, and having certain organic forms 

 in common, yet each marked hy^ differences, partly organic 

 and partly mineral, by which the one may be distinguished 

 from the other. The upper division, including all the beds 

 from the base of the millstone grit to the base of the Dun 

 Limestone — the lowest limestone of any value — has a thick- 

 ness of about 1700 feet. This division is chiefly distinguish- 

 able by the interstratification of many good, workable, and 

 thick beds of carbonate lime among alternations of sandstones, 

 shales, and coals, and by the large series of marine organisms 

 connected with the calcareous strata. Though some coal seams 

 of fair quality occur, and two, the Shilbottle and Licker coals, 

 are of superior quality, yet the others are generally poor and 

 thin. This upper division is on the same zoological horizon 

 as the lower or scar limestone of Yorkshire, for it yields such 

 organic forms as Solemya primceva, Posidonia Becheri, 



