ON THE 8T0CKDALE SHALES. 679 



§ IV. Description of Confirmatoky Sections. 



In confirming the observations made upon the Skolgill Beds of 

 Skelgill and the Browgill Beds of Browgill, by an examination of 

 other sections, we propose first to describe the sections along the 

 main line of outcrop of the Stockdalc Shales, beginning at the 

 E.N.E. end and proceeding to the W.S.W., and afterwards to allude 

 to those in the outlying districts. 



Although the outcrop of the Stockdale Shales is parallel with 

 that of the Coniston-Limestone series, the latter are seen further 

 eastward than the former. At Shap Wells the Coniston-Limestone 

 series comes out from under the Carboniferous beds in Blea Gill, 

 and the first beds seen above it are in Wasdale Beck, and belong to 

 the Lower Coniston Tlags, here considerably altered by the Shap 

 granite, but nevertheless containing the usual vomerine Graptolites. 

 Between these beds there is perhaps room for the Stockdale Shales ; 

 but as the highest beds of the Coniston-Limestone series seen in 

 Blea Beck are by no means its uppermost beds, there is almost 

 certainly a strike-fault here, and the Stockdale Shales may be wholly 

 or in part faulted out. As the ground is drift-covered here, and for 

 many miles further east, the presence or absence of the Stockdale 

 Shales cannot be determined. The first satisfactory section of the 

 Stockdale Shales which we have discovered is that seen in Browgill, 

 of which a portion has been already described, and it remains for us 

 therefore to complete the description by the addition of the details 

 of the Skelgill Beds of this beck. 



Broiugill, 



Referring to the' section across the beck in fig. 2, it will be seen 

 that an important strike-fault occurs a little above the stream at 

 the rake. This is traceable all along the outcrop of the beds in 

 Browgill, as well as in Stockdale Beck, and separates the Middle 

 Skelgill from the Lower Skelgill Beds, or (in Stockdale Beck) cuts 

 the Lower Beds out altogether. The dip of the beds is different on 

 opposites sides of the fault, being at a much higher angle (about 

 60°) on the north-west bank of the stream than on the south-east, 

 where it is usually below 30°. The steep dip- slope of the north- 

 west bank is occupied by ordinary Coniston Limestone where it 

 joins the moorland above, and the parts nearer the stream show a 

 development of the Ashgill Shales. These seem to pass up with 

 perfect conformity into the lowest beds of the Skelgill group, which 

 are different from those of the Skelgill Beck. 



Ka 1. We find about 2 feet 6 inches of mottled, light-grey, flaggy, 

 pyritous shale, somewhat calcareous in places, forming the right 

 bank of the stream a little above water-level, and occurring in the 

 bed of the stream itself. Graptolites are not uncommon in it, but 

 we have only succeeded in finding two species, both of which are 

 fairly abundant ; they are : — 



Diplograptus acuminatus, Nich. \ Climacograptus normalis, Lapiu, 



