1866.] CtTREY — DRIFT OF THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. 43 



good section, which shows a blue clay interspersed with angular 

 fragments of sandstone of a local character, and numerous thin 

 pieces of shale, also some blocks of limestone rather striated. Green 

 slates, porphyry, and basalt are very rare. The thickness of this 

 mass is 50 feet ; and it is overlain by a deposit of sandstone-pebbles 9 

 feet thick, above which is a stratum of water-washed sand 5 feet thick. 

 This is again surmounted by shaly material 8 feet in thickness, thus 

 making a face of section 72 feet in height. Again, to the east, at 

 Langley, close to the turnpike road, the drift is exposed in a cutting 

 of the Hexham and Allendale Railway. It is here of a dark-brown 

 colour, with the usual kinds of pebbles and boulders. 



For the range of the elevation of the Drift between Devil's Water 

 and the river Wear, the following points will afford a tolerable idea 

 — namely, the first on the ridge about a mile to the south-west of 

 Slealey, the second a mile up the Stanhope and Tyne Railway from 

 Waskerley, and the third on the summit of the road leading between 

 Dean House and "Witton-le-Wear. Prom the first of these points 

 the outspreading area, stretching down to the Tyne, and bounded on 

 each side by the Devil's Water and the Derwent, is for the most 

 part covered by Drift, in greater or smaller quantities. Pine water- 

 worn sand prevails below Minister Acres. Green slates, porphyries, 

 and basalt are generally disseminated among the arenaceous super- 

 ficial accumulations of the adjacent country. A very considerable 

 accumulation of Drift lies in the valley of the Tyne near Stocksfield, 

 and can be seen with advantage on the east side of Stocksfield Burn, 

 where it is tolerably well exposed in section. The mass thickens 

 from the Tyne across the valley to the southern bank against which it 

 lodges. The Drift reaches up the valley of the Derwent a little above 

 Blanchland, and up that of the Edmondbyers Burn as far as Edmond- 

 byers. On the ridge between this burn and Icehope Burn, it extends 

 very little to the west of Muggleswick. 



Prom the second point the Drift covers much of the area down the 

 south side of the Derwent. Above Waskerley, on that small area 

 to the south-west side of the railway, it appears to be absent, but on 

 the north-east side it occurs. It is here characterized by the 

 scattered green slates, porphyries, &c. among the superficial accu- 

 mulations. These scattered stones ma}^ be best seen on the old cart- 

 road down the fell. The road continues down the declivity to 

 Horseleyhope Mill, and thence by Castleside to Consett. It is on 

 this road and adjoining parts that the various drift-stones can be 

 advantageously observed. 



In the neighbourhood of Horseleyhope MiU the Drift occurs in 

 much abundance, consisting of clay, local detritus, and detritus from 

 rocks many of which are situated at a great distance. The clay is 

 stiff and compact, and of a brownish colour, but varies from that to a 

 bluish grey. It also varies in other properties, so as in some parts to 

 become sandy. The local detritus occurs in larger proportion, and is 

 evidently derived, in a great measure, from the Millstone -grit series. 

 It consists chiefly of angular fragments of coarse sandstone, and small 

 rather thin pieces of argillaceous strata. The former range from very 



