338 Mr, Weaver's Geological Observations on 



II. FLCETZ OR SEDIMENTARY TRACTS, 

 a. First sedimentary or carboniferous Series. 



§ 16. In this series are comprised, the old red sandstone, the mountain or 

 carboniferous limestone, and the coal formation. 



§ 17. It has been already stated generally (§ 6.) that the old red sandstone 

 appears in this district in two distinct ranges, a northern and a southern ; 

 these however may not improbably have been originally only one, subsequently 

 broken up and dissevered. 



The northern range, commencing at its southern extremity, at the northern 

 foot of Sunday's hill, extends along the eastern foot of Whitecliff Park ridge 

 and the left bank of the Avon below its junction with the Eastwood stream, 

 toward the town of Berkeley, which is seated on this formation, and thence 

 to Sharpness Point, on the left bank of the Severn, and up the river nearly 

 to Pyrton Passage ; being bounded throughout on the east by the transition 

 tract, already described, on which it reposes. At its northern extremity, on 

 the confines of the transition beds near Pyrton (§ 10.) it appears in a con- 

 formable position, dipping to the south-west, preserving this arrangement to 

 Sharpness Point, where it gradually becomes horizontal, and then rises up, 

 inclining at an angle of 6° to the north-east ; and beyond that point an ex- 

 tensive flat of alluvial land lines the shore. The gently waved disposition of 

 the old red sandstone on the right bank of the river, corresponds with that on 

 the left bank, but is still more continuously obvious, the formation being there 

 partly of greater elevation ; and the same rock extends without interruption 

 from Nass Point on the south, (where it has again acquired a south-westerly 

 inclination,) to Gatcombe cliff on the north, — in which quarter the strata are 

 inflected in the form of a perfect arch, probably derived from a corresponding- 

 arch of transition beds beneath, this spot being directly opposite to the transition 

 arch at Pyrton on the left bank of the river: on the right bank, however, transi- 

 tion beds are not visible. We have already seen, that at Pyrton the transition 

 series supports, in the north-eastern direction, the lias limestone formation 

 (§ 10.) ; but on the opposite coast at Gatcombe cliff this formation reposes on 

 the north-eastern plane of the old red sandstone, being there also in a 

 conformable position. More inland, on that side of the river, the old red 

 sandstone gradually acquires a high angle of elevation, supporting, in its cir- 

 cuitous range around the Forest of Dean, the carboniferous limestone, which 

 two rocks, with the intervention of a bed of sandstone and sandstone consrlo- 

 merate, conjointly inclose the coal-basin of the Forest. 



The strata of the old red sandstone, which thus line both banks of the 



