TRIASSIC STRATA OF CUMBERLAND AND DUMFRIES. 671 



in the neighbourhood. So far as my observations went^ 

 the middle coal-field extended south along the coast_, from 

 Maryport by Workington and Harrington^ to Lord Lons- 

 dale's quarry of red sandstone to the north of Whitehaven. 

 This sandstone is of a remarkable character^ and is evidently 

 the same as the rock seen to the south of Whitehaven and 

 on to Barrowmouth. Its thickness must be about 140 

 feetj and the upper portion of it might be taken as a coal- 

 measure rock ; indeed it was considered as such by me 

 when I saw it many years ago. Then I had only examined 

 the upper portion of it, as exposed in the coast-section at 

 Barrowmouth, and had not seen the lower parts, which 

 for 30 feet are of a conglomerate character, containing 

 white quartz pebbles of the size of a common bean and 

 much peroxide of iron and decomposed felspar, and not to 

 be distinguished from millstone grit, — altogether different 

 in character from the upper part of the rock, and containing 

 traces of what appears to me like volcanic ash. 



Prof. Sedgwick, when he first noticed this rock, described 

 it as lower red sandstone ; and Mr. Bourne and the other 

 local geologists of the district designate it by that name, 

 although the latter appear to think it conformable to the 

 underlying coal-measures. Its dip is nearly level, but in- 

 clines slightly to the south. It contains common coal- 

 plants of the genera Sigillariaj CalamiteSy Sternbergia, and 

 Dadoacylon, the specific characters of which cannot be made 

 out. To the south end of the quarry, near the colliery, 

 10 feet in thickness of coloured clays, of a purple colour, 

 make their appearance under the sandstone, and dip to- 

 wards the north ; probably they may be brought in by a 

 fault, as the red sandstone is not seen on the hill above the 

 colliery. To me it appeared as if the coal-measures were 

 there unconformable to the overlying red sandstone. In the 

 valley occupied by the town of Whitehaven the strata are 

 not well exposed ; but to the south of the town the thick 



