14 Mr. Phillips on a Group of Slate Rocks 



forth, so that this river runs for about four miles across the direction of the 

 siate rocks. This great expansion of surface has been favourable to the esta- 

 blishment of slate quarries, of which several may be inspected near the S.E. 

 ano-le of Mou"hton Fell. The whole length of this scar fronting the Ribbie 

 deserves particular examination. 



In a little stream nearly west of the village of Horton the slate is covered 

 by a series of beds which I did not find elsewhere. Immediately on the slate, 

 rests a layer of fragmented quartz and slate in a calcareous paste. Above, are 

 four feet of shale with a hard contained bed : next a bed 18 inches thick, of 

 frao-mented quartz and slate, with pyrites : then 2 feet of lumpy shale : 3 feet 

 of lumpy limestone : 5 feet of broad laminated shale, which throws out the 

 water; and 25 feet of limestone in the low scar above. The cleavage planes 

 of the .slate here range E.S.E. and dip 70° S. 



Following the edge of the scar toward the south, a series of planes dipping 

 40"^ S. makes the slate appear stratified. Several variations happen in the di- 

 rection of their dip, between this place and the great slate quarry further 

 south, where the tables dip S.W. Here the greater portion of the flags now 

 du"- is obtained; but, as no junction appears of the slate and incumbent lime- 

 stone, the older quarries beyond are more interesting. In the first of these 

 the laminae range E.S.E. dip S.W. 43°, and are crossed by long smooth vertical 

 joints ranging S. and N., as well as by lesser ones ranging E.S.E. and dipping 

 30° N.E., and by others ranging E. and dipping 43° N. Soft greenish layers 

 occur between the tables. Beyond, is a still older quarry under the limestone 

 scar, where the laminae dip 80° S.W. ; and, in the lower ground, are two others, 

 where the planes of cleavage dipping N.E. 75° are crossed by long smooth 

 vertical N. and S. joints ; as well as by others dipping S.W. 60°, which become 

 so numerous as to exhibit a false cleavage. Hard nodules, often septariate and 

 containing calcareous spar, lie in the planes of slate at the lower quarry. Once 

 I thought an Orthoceras was distinguishable in one of these nodules. 



East of the Ribbie, junctions of slate and limestone are scarcely any where 

 to be seen ; and the country is much less favourable to minute examination than 

 that previously described. But the slate is seen in many places with cleavage 

 planes ranging nearly S.E. ; and other characters may be investigated in 

 streams and fields, especially near the farm of Neil's Ings. 



The northern range of limestone keeps its high level at the base of Peny- 

 gent and Fountain's Fell, and forms the curious scars known by the name of 

 "Flat Rocks." The southern range of limestone crossing the Ribbie appears 

 at the village of Great Stainforth, at the level of the river, with a northward 

 declination. South of this village it rises on each side of the river at a mode- 



