Mr. Weaver on the Geological Relations of the South of Ireland. 67 



strings, or filaments, more or less connected with each other, yet not persist- 

 ent, being in fact variously formed segregated deposits, of contemporaneous 

 origin with the rock itself. 



III. — Notices of Diluvial Action. 



(85.) I cannot conclude these outlines of the mineral constitution of the 

 South of Ireland more appropriately, than by briefly adverting to the distribu- 

 tion of diluvial matter, — a phsenomenon which uniformly presses upon the 

 attention of the geologist, whatever be the country or climate in which he 

 may wander. In illustration of the field comprised in the map (Plate II.), a 

 few instances may suffice, taken in different portions, of the southern and 

 northern quarters. 



(86.) [n Kerry, deep "deposits of rolled debris, in the form of boulders, 

 gravel, and sand, more or less commingled with clay, and derived from the 

 general transition series, are lodged around the circuit, penetrate the de- 

 files, and ascend some height up the flanks, of those magnificent mountain 

 groups which distinguish this county, so celebrated for the picturesque 

 scenery which it enfolds within its bosom. On the other hand, on the external 

 borders, marked by the junction of the transition and carboniferous series, the 

 deposits are of a more mingled character, being derived from the superficial 

 destruction of both systems of strata. 



Analogous accumulations may be observed also on the confines and in the 

 interior of the carboniferous series. That which occurs on the northern face 

 and at the foot of Slieve Meesh, is an example, composed of the debris of 

 the old red sandstone (§. 49.). Another may be noticed at the western ex- 

 tremity of Kerry Head. The abrupt precipices which there brave the assaults 

 of the Atlantic, are from SO to 150 feet high, and are generally covered 

 by a mass of sandstone boulders, gravel, sand, and clay ; but on the highest 

 cliff", which also forms the extreme western point, the diluvial deposit consists 

 almost wholly of the detritus of limestone, extending to the depth of thirty feet, 

 and containing but few sandstone pebbles. Now, no fixed limestone rock 

 is found nearer than seven miles, and is there in a lower position, being little 

 elevated above the level of the sea. The surface of the coal tract itself is 

 generally covered, to a greater or less depth, by rolled debris, imbedded in 

 clay, and derived from the harder as well as the softer portions of the coal 

 strata; buton the borders these are more or less commingled with the detritus 

 of the adjacent limestone. 



(87.) Jn Tipperary, Limerick, and Cork, in the clayslate and greywacke 

 district, which occupies the lower grounds between the Gaultees range on 



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