142 Dr. FiTTON on the Strata below the Chalk. 



(52.) Reigaie. — The map and sections, Plate VII. fig. 2. and X a., Nos. 2. 

 and 3., sufficiently indicate the general relations of the beds here, which have 

 been already the subject of a paper in the Geological Transactions by Mr. 

 Webster* ; where a sketch is given of the history of the remarkable ancient 

 quarries at this place. The firestone forms a terrace beyond the chalk, nearly 

 level with the top of the remotest sand-ridge ; and the gault runs out from 

 the base of the terrace, at first horizontally, and then rises towards the 

 tunnel, by which the road is conducted through the first ridge of the Lower 

 green-sand f, here composed of cream-coloured and yellowish sandrock. 

 From the town of Reigate the strata rise again towards Cockham Hill : so 

 that there are here two ridges ; first, that through which the tunnel is cut, and 

 secondly, the southern ridge, formed of the lowest sand beds, — with what ap- 

 pears to be the middle, greener sand between. At Earlswood Common, about 

 a mile to the east of the outcrop, the clay of the Wealds is found. The sud- 

 den fall from the chalk to the valley of Reigate and the abrupt rise thence 

 to the outermost ridge of Red Hill, &c., is exceedingly striking. At Reigate 

 Heath, on the west of the town, the vale which seems to be occupied by 

 the middle sands is rushy and moist, bearing pools upon its surface : but the 

 fall of the ground still farther west, where the continuation of the outer ridge 

 of sands might be expected, is also a remarkable feature. 



(53.) In proceeding westward, the rise of the sands at Buckland is like- 

 wise very rapid. Thence to Holmwood Common, on the south-west, no ob- 

 servations have been made, but the boundary between the green-sands and 

 the Weald is less obviously marked ; and there is a strong contrast between 

 this space and the prominent ridges of Leith Hill; the lower tract, it will be 

 observed, being that in which the streams converge to join the Mole before 

 its passage through the gorge at Dorking. 



(54.) It will be seen, even from the map (Plate IX.), that the outcrop of 

 the Lower green-sand, from Reigate to the head of the valley of the Wealds, 

 is not continuous ; two, if not three, distinct tracts of this formation, bounded 



pit was more in request ; the price, however, the same. It is necessary for the purposes of the 

 woollen manufacturer, that the Fuller's-earth should be free from any admixture of ochre or sand, 

 which are found to cut the cloth. 



* First Series, vol. v. p. 353, &c. 



t The relations of a stratum of dark greenish sandy clay, about seven feet thick, immediately 

 above the tunnel at Reigate, are at first sight doubtful. It might be taken for an advanced portion 

 of the gault ; but is, more probably, a subordinate bed within the first division of the Lower 

 green-sand ; — a detached portion, as it were, of the middle greener beds, which it resembles in 

 mineral character. A similar bed occurs, in a corresponding situation at Pulborough, which Mr, 

 Martin, with whom I examined it, has since ascertained to belong to the place here mentioned. 



