OP THE MEUX- WELL DEPOSITS. 915 



might present themselves, by the distance or depth, as compared with 

 the Mendips, at which the later beds met the Paleozoic barrier. 



Even though no distinct stratified beds might be recognized, in 

 such a case as the Meux brewery, between the well-known Cretaceous 

 beds, seemingly putting on throughout their general normal condi- 

 tions, and the Devonian series, it might still be possible by close 

 and careful examination to find some evidence of the former presence 

 either of denuded deposits or of others still resting not far off on 

 either flank of the Palaeozoic ridge, washed into and mixed up with 

 the later horizontal deposits by which it was subsequently covered. 

 It should, however, be borne in mind, in case of failure, that, as com- 

 pared with the surrounding geological area, the diamond borer yields 

 •but an infinitesimal point of but a few inches in diameter for 

 examination, thereby rendering the proof uncertain and doubtful 

 as to alighting upon the right spot for derived material, or for 

 finding an occasional intercalated unconformable deposit. 



I was unable to give any consideration to the boring operations 

 at the Meux well during their progress, but was subsequently 

 obligingly supplied by the authorities with the following samples, 

 selected promiscuously by the brewery engineer, who furnished 

 their depths from the surface : — 



Depth of core, 

 feet. 

 509. | 



688* i White chalk, unexamined. 



716! J 



800. Light-blue clay ; vegetable remains, Ventriculite markings, and fish- 

 scales on surface. 

 820. Greensand, dense and micaceous. 



876. G-ault, a finely laminated blue clay, with many Microzoa. 

 899. Do. do., with vertical pipes filled with pyrites and organisms often 



covered with the same Mineral. 

 914. A grey indurated stone or marl, with vegetable markings and fish- 

 scales on surface. 

 1000. A blue coarse marl, with chloritic grains and small nodules of phos- 

 phate of lime. 

 1005. A compact oolitic limestone, with fragments of shells. 

 1018. \ 



l^oi' I Coarse grey marl, some samples more indurated than others, and most 

 1044 h °^ t nem containing numerous granules of a darker colour, also free 

 10^0 I oolitic concretions and many organisms. 



1057^ ) 



Devonian beds. 



Though the samples sent me were from uncertain intervals, it 

 could be observed that the beds passed through down to the depth 

 of 1000 feet presented the general lithological characters of their 

 representatives elsewhere, the exception perhaps being that at inter- 

 vals there were intercalated beds of oolitic limestone, which, but for 

 their density, might have passed for great deposits of Oolite, and 

 would have furnished a first-rate building-material for the great city, 

 could they be made available. I am not aware that any equivalent 



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