210 Geological Society : — 



and magnetite which occur in the so-called Permian breccias on the 

 western margin of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Coalfield. These pebbles, 

 which are largely collected for sale and used as " burnishers," vary 

 in size from a diameter of y 1 ^ inch to the size of a man's fist. They 

 present many varieties of form, have sometimes an agate-like struc- 

 ture, and occasionally exhibit well-marked magnetic polarity. 

 Sometimes they show grooving and striation resembling those pro- 

 duced by ice- action, while at other times they seem to have been 

 crushed and recemented. Many of these pebbles contain fossils of 

 various kinds, chiefly plant- and insect-remains, but with a few of 

 Annelids, Mollusca and Fish. All the fossils are of Carboniferous 

 age. 



From the consideration of all the facts detailed in the paper, the 

 author concluded that these nodules were originally composed of 

 clay ironstone, and that they were derived from Carboniferous strata. 

 He considered that the pseudomorphic action by which they have 

 acquired their present composition must have taken place in situ 

 since their inclusion in the breccia. 



June 24.— Prof. T. G. Bonney, D.Sc, F.R.S., President, 

 in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. " Supplementary Notes on the Deep Boring at Richmond, 

 Surrey." By Prof. John W. Judd, F.R.S., Sec.G.S., and CoUett 

 Homersham, Esq., F.G.S. 



Since the author's former communication to the Society on the 

 subject, this boring, in spite of the strenuous efforts made by the 

 Eichmond Vestry and the contractors, Messrs. Docwra and Co., has 

 had to be abandoned, after reaching a total depth of 1447 feet from 

 the surface. This depth is 145 feet greater than that of any other 

 well in the London Basin, and, reckoning from Ordnance Datum, 

 reaches a lower level by 312 feet than any other well in the district. 



Before the termination of the work temperature-observations 

 were obtained, which, generally, confirm those previously arrived at. 



The strata in which the boring terminated consisted of the red 

 and variegated sandstones and marls previously described, which 

 were proved to the depth of 208 feet. Although it was demon- 

 strated that these beds have a dip of about 30°, complicated in 

 places by much false-bedding, no conclusive evidence could be 

 obtained concerning their geological age. They may be referred 

 either to some part of the Poikilitic series, or to the Carboniferous 

 (for similar strata have been found intercalated in the Carboniferous 

 scries at Gayton, near Northampton), or they may be regarded as 

 of Old lied Sandstone age. 



Some interesting additional observations have been made since 

 the reading of the former paper, on the Cretaceous rocks passed 

 through in this well. Mr. W. Hill, F.G.S., of Hitchin, has found 

 the exact analogue of the curious conglomerated chalk met with at 

 a depth of 704 feel at Richmond. His observations entirely confirm 



