VIII. Observations on the Wrekiii^ and on the great Coal-jield of 

 Shropshire. 



By Arthur Aikin^, Esq. 

 Alcniher of the Geological Socictij. 



Among the many interesting features which the mineral formations 

 of the County of Salop present to the geological observer, there is 

 none more worthy of study than that line of hills of which the 

 Wrekin is the most celebrated. It lias attracted the notice of several 

 mineralogists, and especially of Dr. Townson ;* but even this acute 

 observer appears to have fallen into some important errors on the 

 subject, principally from not having investigated with sufficient accu- 

 racy the nature and bearings of the different beds on each side of the 

 elevated central ridge. I shall not therefore, I trust, be considered as 

 occupying unprofitably the time of the Geological Society by the 

 following general sketch of my own observations on the same 

 district. 



The red sandstone, which forms the surface of so large a portion 

 of Cheshire and of the northern half of Shropshire, extends but 

 a few miles south of Shrewsbury to the west of the confluence of 

 the Tern and Severn : from this latter point a line drawn N. E. to 

 the town of Newport will form the boundary of the sandstone in 

 this quarter ; but from Newport this rock passes nearly due south 

 between Shifnal and Prior's Leigh to the Severn, crosses this river 



*Townson's Tract?, p. 158. 



