Basin of the Eden and north-western Coasts of Cumberland, ^c. 39\ 



series ; and, in the long range from Appleby to Maryport, there are few places 

 where the two formations can be shown, by their dip or inclination, to be in 

 an unconformable position. 



(3.) At St. Bees Head it has apparently the same dip as the coal measures*. 

 But in the same neighbourhood it is proved to pass obliquely over their out- 

 crop ; and, after overlapping the mountain limestone, to range alono- the 

 flanks of the primary mountains f . 



(4.) It overlies the carboniferous system of Low Furness, and reappears in 

 the next promontory, as a conglomerate unconformable to the mountain lime- 

 stone. 



It offers, therefore, most obvious analogies to the new red sandstone series 

 of many other parts of England. In one respect, however, it greatly differs 

 from the overlying red sandstone of the great Bristol and Welsh coal fields ; 

 as its beds are, in a part of its range, not only parallel to the beds of the car- 

 boniferous series, but appear, through an intermediate sandstone, so nearly to 

 pass into them, that it becomes extremely difficult to define the precise limits 

 of the two formations. 



§ 2. Ow some detached Masses of the Carboniferous Series within the area 



of the New Red Sandstone. 



There may be three causes to account for the appearance of such masses : 

 1st, When the chain of Cross Pell was severed (by the great dislocation 

 above noticed), from the carboniferous chain now forming the outskirts of the 

 primary Cumbrian system, it seems probable (independently of direct evidence), 

 that some large dislocated masses of rock would be left in the intervening area 

 which is now generally covered with the new red sandstone. 2ndly, The red 

 sandstone may, when first deposited, have been of a very irregular thickness, 

 and in some places may have left the inferior rocks partially uncovered. 

 Srdly, The protruding masses of the older rocks may have been laid bare by the 

 great denudations already mentioned. To one or more of these causes we 

 may attribute the appearance of the detached portions of the carboniferous 

 series I am about to notice. 



The first example occurs near the middle of Broadfield (once a wild heathy 

 tract of land, but now inclosed), about six miles due south of Carhsle, and 

 about a mile and a half east-south-east of the village of Gatesgill. Close to 

 the meeting of four roads, fine contorted masses of mountain limestone are 

 exposed in three quarries, two on the east side of the Penrith road, and one 



* Plate XXV. fig. 1. t Plate XXV. fig. 5 & 6. 



