in the Neighbourhood of Bristol. 201 



the heaps of rubbish at the mouth of the pit are often so rich in ore 

 that considerable sums are paid for the privilege of washing them. 



Manganese is also found in this district : it has not however been 

 worked to any extent. The principal pit from which it is taken is 

 in the parish of Ashton on the slope of the hill overlooking the 

 valley to the west of the church. It is found in an iron-stone vein 

 crossing the limestone. What little is found is used at the glass- 

 houses and potteries of Bristol, and at the bleach yards in the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



To the limestone succeed other beds, in which a red siliceous 

 sand is the prevailing ingredient. They lie in very regular strata 

 from a foot to two inches thick, and parallel to those of the lime- 

 stone. They are best observed on the southern bank of the river 

 along the towing path for the distance of about half a mile from 

 where the limestone terminates. These beds extend on the south 

 of the Avon to Leigh, Failand and Charlton, and on the north they 

 pass near to Sneed park towards Westbury. Some of the beds of 

 this formation near to Abbots Leigh make a fine stone for building. 



Among the uppermost of these beds are several composed of sand- 

 stone, the fissures of which are coated by calc-sinter, then a thin 

 stratum of sandstone with evident marks of vegetable remains ; below 

 which is a red slaty sandstone very micaceous, and then a bed of 

 siliceous puddingstone about 1 2 feet thick containing in some parts 

 a number of white quartz pebbles. 



About the middle of this series of sandstones there is found a 

 singular stratum about 3 feet thick, composed of irregular balls of 

 limestone packed closely together, the intervals being filled with fine 

 sand. Below this the red slaty micaceous sandstone is repeated and 

 at length disappears, being the last of the highly inclined strata that 

 can be distinguished. 



