1850.] 



CUNNINGTON LOWER GREENSAND AT SEEND. 



453 



additional information from the same gentleman who forwarded me 

 the marl in the first instance. 



The upper peat averages about twelve inches in thickness. The 

 white marl runs about fifteen inches thick ; but in some places it is 

 nearly five feet thick. The black peat under the marl varies from 

 three to seven feet in thickness ; and under it is said to lie a blue soft 

 clay. This formation extends about two miles on the west, and 1^^ 

 mile on the east of the railway, and for about seven miles in length. 



June 19, 1850. 



The following communications were read : — 



I. On a Section of the Lower Greensand at Seend, near 

 Devizes. By William Cunnington, Esq. 

 [Communicated by Joseph Prestwich, jun., Esq., F.G.S.] 

 Having during the past winter made some observations on the sec- 

 tions exposed in the cutting of the road, at Seend, near Devizes, I 

 now send you the result. I feel it important that this information 

 should be recorded, or it will be altogether lost ; the section having 

 already been for some time covered up. 



The cutting was not more than twelve feet deep. It exhibited the 

 Lower Greensand reposing unconformably on Kimmeridge clay. The 

 following is a detail of the stratification : — 



1 . Kimmeridge clay, having at the top masses of imperfect limestone, 



or septaria, bored by the Lithodomus shells of the lower green- 

 sand; the shells themselves being preserved in situ, and the 

 holes filled up with the ferruginous sand. 



2. Masses of imperfect, gravelly sandstone and sand, not very ferru- 



ginous, containing pebbles of quartz, &c. and numerous fossils. 



3. Dark green and brown sands. 



4. Iron sandstone, with fossils. 



5. Yellowish sand. 



6. Iron sandstone. 



7. Sands, &c. 



The whole surmounted with a patch of yellow, brashy clay of a few 

 acres in extent. 



Section from Seend to Devizes. 



E. 



Devizes. 



Kimmeridge clay. 



Lower greensand, exposed in the cutting 

 of the road at Seend. 



c. Lower greensand. 



d. Gault, 80 feet. 



e. Upper greensand, 90 feet. 



