81 



The Geology of the Berwick Coast Line. By Commander 

 F. M. Norman, R.N. 



[Read at the Berwick Meeting of the Club, on 12th 

 October 1899.*] 



The exigencies of time confine me to the very briefest and 

 crudest outline of our subject. The coast line which we 

 now view, apart from its natural beauty and attractiveness, 

 is one of great geological interest, because, on and about 

 it, several geological systems are represented ; and because, 

 besides, the results of a great geological or terrestrial catas- 

 trophe are clearly evidenced. Indeed, I know of no locality 

 where so many leading features are comprised within so 

 limited an area. 



The geological systems, or eras, which are represented, 

 are the Silurian, the Old Red Sandstone, the Carboniferous, 

 the Glacial, and Intrusive Igneous Rocks. Had we but 

 more time at our disposal, I could conduct you to all of 

 these, and I hope that at some future meeting, either 

 sectional or general, opportunity will be afforded of studying, 

 and of explaining to our geologically iuclined members, a 

 little more about this most instructive locality than we can 

 possibly accom[)lish this morning. 



We stand now on, and confining our gaze to the coast 

 line, we have before us the lower strata of the Carboniferous 

 limestone, which means some of the oldest and lowest beds 

 of the second, first formed, or lower division of the great 

 carb miferous or coal producing system. The nearer we 

 travel to Newcastle, the higher we rise in that system, 

 gradually arriving by an ascending series of beds as we 

 approach the smoky metropolis of Northumberland, on the 



* The reading of this paper was intended to have taken place upon 

 the rocks near " the Burgess' Cove," had the weather permitted. 



