South'Western Part of Somersetshire, 349 



this district, mclined at a considerable angle and rising towards a 

 mass of the granite which appears in the form of a wall a few feet 

 above the ground. Within a few yards of the granite the incli- 

 nation of the strata is about 35°, but as it approaches nearer to it 

 the angle increases to 63% and the texture of the stone becomes 

 much more compact ; the actual junction of the two rocks is, as is 

 usually the case, very indistinct, the stratification of the slate be- 

 ing very much disturbed and broken : but I was informed that the 

 best whetstones are got nearest the granite, and I found the most 

 indurated pieces in that situation. Being desirous of seeing the 

 actual contact, I obtained permission from Mr. Warre to clear 

 away the ground across the line of junction : and although the 

 quantity of brushwood, and thick covering of soil, and a very 

 unfavourable state of the weather prevented me from making so 

 complete an examination as I wished, I so far effected my purpose 

 as to find the junction. The granite as it approaches the slate be- 

 comes much finer grained than before, and at the contact there is 

 an indistinct blending of the two, and as far as I can judge from 

 the very imperfect specimens I could obtain, there is an appearance 

 of fragments of the slate united by a granitic cement. All the 

 circumstances appear to favour the supposition of this being a 

 vein of granite, but the evidence I have to offer is too scanty to 

 enable me to speak with confidence on the subject. 



§ 11. Some years ago a shaft was sunk in one of the branches 

 of Grabbist hill at Stanton, above the village of Alcombe, in 

 consequence of some indications of copper in the rock there, but 

 the quantity of ore found was so small that the workings v/ere very 

 goon given up. I found among the rubbish some pieces of green 

 carbonate of copper with grey copper. Similar trials with no 

 better success were made at Perry near the northern extremity of 



