10 Mr. Phillips on a Group of Slate Rocks 



greth and Whernside. Having passed between the distant limestone scars in 

 which Yordas Cave is situated, the water of Kingsdale flows by a winding 

 channel among very romantic cliffs of the lower part of this rock. This scene, 

 which reminds a spectator of Derbyshire, is terminated by a very fine water- 

 fall, of perhaps forty feet in height, over the lowest beds of limestone resting 

 on slate, so that, at half the height of the precipice, is seen the junction of 

 these two rocks. 



The contrast of horizontally bedded limestone and vertically jointed slate is 

 remarkable, and gives a peculiar character to this interesting spot. The lime- 

 stone beds higher in the rock are commonly distinguished by a tendency to 

 split vertically into subcolumnar forms ; but the thick beds which rest upon 

 the slate show few vertical joints, and are marked by horizontal weather slits, 

 indicating the more laminar structure of the stone. 



Climbing to the junction, I found the lowest limestone bed filled for about 

 two feet nearest the bottom with large rolled pebbles of slate, and above these 

 with abundance of smaller pebbles of quartz and slate. This unequivocal 

 conglomeratic condition of the limestone continues for about twenty feet in 

 height, the pebbles diminishing upwards, though irregularly, both in size and 

 number*. 



The slate rocks thus exposed have their cleavage planes directed nearly S.E. 

 They continue, and are seen down the stream in large rhomboidal masses, 

 covered by heath, and ornamented by frequent waterfalls, and give to this 

 part of Kingsdale the appearance of some Cumberland valley in miniature. 



Beneath the pebbly limestone which ranges in level beds, slate is seen at 

 intervals, principally on the west side of the valley, for a quarter of a mile 

 toward the south, where it attains the height of ] 50 feet above the water, and 

 has been quarried for the purpose of roofing. 



Immediately beyond, the scene changes, the slate sinks suddenly, and lime- 

 stone fills all the valley to the south ; the place of this alteration is marked by 

 a strange confusion and dislocation indicating a great fault, which has de- 

 pressed, apparently with a sudden reverse of dip, the beds on the south. This 

 confusion may be well examined on the west side, but on the east gravel hides 

 the appearances of stratification. 



The line of dislocation appears to be directed more toward the south than 

 the cleavage planes of the slate, and follows a straight part of the stream, in 

 consequence of which the depressed range of limestone appears further upon 

 the west than on the east side of Kingsdale. 



Between the nearest points of the slate and limestone in the stream dipping 



* See Section B, Plate I. 



