230 



H. B. WOODWARD ON THE SUPERFICIAL DEPOSITS 



26. Notes on the Gravels, Sands, and other Superficial Deposits in 

 the Neighbourhood of Newton Abbot, Devonshire *. By Horace 

 B. Woodward, Esq., E.G.S., of the Geological Survey of England 

 and Wales. (Read April 5, 1876.) 



The visitor to Newton Abbot cannot fail to be struck with the 

 number of sand- and gravel-pits, some of great size, which are 

 scattered about the neighbourhood, not only in the valleys, but 

 high up the slopes of the hills, and in several instances on their 

 summits. 



On giving some attention to the character and distribution of 

 these deposits of sand and gravel, it will be found -.—first, that two 

 main divisions may be made in them, namely those of an evi- 

 dently alluvial character, and those which occupy positions quite 

 unconnected with the present systems of drainage ; and, secondly, 

 that these latter deposits are nevertheless confined to the Bovey 

 Basin and bordering hills, not descending into any of the other 

 lateral or outlying valleys. 



A reference to the geological maps of the country will not serve 

 to throw much light on the correlation or identification of the beds 

 when they are examined in detail. But since the days when 

 De la Becne and Godwin-Austen recorded their observations, many 

 new sections have been opened up. The rapid growth of Torquay 

 and Newton Abbot has been attended by a call for sand, which 

 is largely used in the preparation of " cobb," a kind of plaster, 

 unfortunately necessary to envelop and keep the damp out of 

 houses for the most part built of marble. 



Diagram Section from near Newton Abbot to Milber Down. 

 (Distance about three miles.) 



n.w. 



S.E. 



River Lemon, 



near 

 Newton Abbot. 



Wool- 

 borough 

 Hill. 





South 

 Devon 

 Railway. 



Hill south ! 



of Keybury J 



Mill. ' 



Milber Down. 





a. Gravel and sand. 



b. Bovey clays. 



c. Triass 1 c Breccia. 



d. Devonian slates. 



e. Traces of Greensand. 



The examination of these sections, together with those dug 

 for the foundations of new villas on Woolborough Hill, has led me 

 to differ from the opinions and conclusions which have been hitherto 

 accepted. 



Since Mr. Godwin- Austen's paper was published f , no particular 



* This paper is communicated by permission of the Director-General of the 

 Geological Survey of the United Kingdom. 



t Trans. Geol. Soc. 2nd series, vol. viii. p. 433. 



