Notices and Extracts from the Minutes of the Geological Society. 1G9 



That the first manganese which was obtained in Warwickshire, was found 

 at Hartshill, on the estate of T. L. Ludford, Esq. of Ainsley Hall, about two 

 miles from Atherstone. A poor man, of the name of Hankinson, who pos- 

 sesses a small field adjoining to Mr. Ludford's estate, has since found manga- 

 nese in his land, and has raised a considerable quantity. A man of the name 

 of Davis has also raised some, and sold it at a good price to the bleachers in 

 Lancashire. 



Any member of this Society, who may be desirous of visiting the place 

 where this mineral occurs, may receive further information by applying to 

 Dr. Power, of Atherstone, who has taken a great deal of interest in the 

 discovery. 



9. On the Gypsum of Monte Seano. Translated from a Letter from M. Scipio 

 Breislak, Inspector of the Nitre Works , &c. at Milan, to G. B. Greenough, 

 Esq. M.G.s. &c. [Read November 2, 1821.] 



To comply with your wishes, I have undertaken an excursion of fifty Italian 

 miles to the gypsum quarry of Monte Seano, where the fossil plants are found, 

 respecting which I give you the following minutes. 



The hills on the right of the Po, which are called Stradella, connect the 

 hills of the Placentine on the east, with those of Tortona and of Novi on the 

 west, ending to the north in the valley of the Po, and to the south at the 

 Appenines of Liguria. A considerable formation of gypsum is observable on 

 all the hills of the Stradella ; and the most interesting part of it is doubtless 

 that at Monte Seano. It is necessary to bear in mind, that on all the hills a 

 great quantity of remains of marine bodies are met with. (See the Fossil 

 Conchology of the Sub-Appenines, by Brocchi.) 



The gypseous deposit of Monte Seano is covered by a bed of yellowish 

 arenaceous marl, which effervesces strongly in acids. In this marl bed, of 

 four or five feet (Parisian measure), are found : — 



1 . Many rounded masses of the same marl. 



2. Some large irregular crystals, which have the rhomboidal form of 

 gypsum. 



3. A thin bed of whitish compact gypsum, of a scaly foliated fracture. 

 Under the bed of marl Gypsum occurs, in horizontal beds from two or 



three inches to three or four feet in thickness. These beds of gypsum are 

 often interrupted by thin layers of grey schistose marl^ containing sometimes 

 small veins of fibrous and of granular gypsum. 



VOL. VI. Z 



