V. — 0)1 the Geology of Toi^ and Babhacombe Bays, Devon. 

 By henry THOMAS DE LA BECHE, Esq. P.G.S. F.R.S. F.L.S., &c. 



[Read November IGth, 1827.] 



1 HE district to be noticed in this communication enables us to trace the dis- 

 turbance of the Exeter red conglomerate, carboniferous limestone, and old 

 red sandstone of the coasts of Tor and Babbacombe Bays, to the intrusion 

 of trap rocks, subsequent to the formation of the Exeter red conglomerate. 



The following- is a g-eneral sketch of the coast. There is no beach to the 

 cliffs from near the Ness-point, at the mouth of the Teign, to Hope's Nose, 

 the northern point of Tor Bay, with the exception of the bottom of a few 

 coves, and the Babbacombe-sands, and their continuation the Oddicombe- 

 sands, both misnomers, for they are shingle beaches. The cliffs plunge di- 

 rectly into the sea, and are well seen only from a boat. The coast is equally bold 

 from Hope's Nose to Torquay, with the exception of Meadfoot-sands, which 

 are, however, backed by a high broken hill. After passing the hill between 

 Torquay and Tor Abbey, the coast assumes a milder character : the cliffs, 

 where they occur, are of no great elevation ; and there are extensive sands 

 both at Paington and Goodrington, separated by Roundham Head. Further 

 south, low cliffs intervene between Goodrington-sands and the Broad-sands. 

 Beyond the low rocky land of Galmpton Point, the cliffs are bolder, and con- 

 tinue so to the Berry Head, being, in a few places, broken into coves, the 

 most considerable of which is occupied by the harbour of Brixham, 



This range of coast is backed by hills, varying in height from 200 to 500 

 feet. Furland Hill, between Brixham and Dartmouth, is 589 feet above the 

 sea, according to the Ordnance Survey. 



I shall now proceed to describe the stratified rocks of this district, com- 

 mencing with the uppermost. 



Exeter Red Conglomerate. — Rolhe Todte Liegende. Grcs Rouge. 



The red conglomerate of Babbacombe and Tor Bays is similar to that of 

 Heavitree and the neighbourhood of Exeter. It consists, generally, of a fine- 

 grained conglomerate of small fragments of carboniferous limestone, old red 



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