300 



MR. H. B. WOODWAED ON A WELL-SINKING AT SWINDON. 



1858, an alkaline mineral water was found. The strata passed 



through were as follows : — 



feet. 



Kimeridge Clay 68 



Corallian Beds 27 



Oxford Clay 36 



131 



In 1S59 and 1860 the well was bored to a further depth of 

 367 feet (total 498 feet), presumably in Oxford Clay. The water 

 obtained from the Corallian beds was analyzed by Mr. W. H. Stanier 

 with the following results : — 



G-rains per 

 imperial gallon. 



Sodium carbonate 45*0 



Sodium chloride 56*0 



Calcium and magnesium sulphate . . 4*4 



Silica, alumina, &c 1*4 



Organic matter, &c 5-2 



112-0 



This water is very similar to that obtained from the Corallian 

 beds in the new well-sinking at Swindon. 



In 1862 analyses were published by Dr. H. M. Noad and Dr. A. 

 Voelcker of a saline spring at a place known as Salt's Hole, between 

 Purton and Cricklade. This locality is on the Oxford Clay, although 

 very likely the water issued from the Corallian beds in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The analyses showed between 350 and 400 grains of 

 saline matter in the gallon, consisting principally of sodium sul- 

 phate, together with calcium and magnesium sulphates. Unfor- 

 tunately the doctors disagreed in the arrangement of their results — 

 in the one case 34 grains of sodium chloride were identified and no 

 magnesium chloride ; and in the other case 30 grains of magnesium 

 chloride were included and no sodium chloride. The amount of 

 saline ingredients differed in the two analyses as much as 50 grains ; 

 and Dr. Yoelcker observed, " Probably the composition of the saline 

 residue varies at different seasons, and the water, like other saline 

 waters obtained only in limited quantities, is not always of the 

 same composition"*. The yield of water was about 120 gallons 

 per day. 



At Melksham, also, mineral springs have been met with. The 

 first discovery was made many years ago in sinking a shaft in 

 search of coal. " After penetrating to a great depth the miners 

 came to a very hard rock [probably Cornbrash, and perhaps also 

 Kellaways Eock], on piercing through which this water rushed in 

 upon them, and was so abundant that the scheme for finding coal 

 was entirely abandoned. . . .The spring ever since continued to flow 



* * See Quart. Journ. Chem. See. vol. xiv. pp. 43-46. 



