242 Geological Society. 



superficial basaltic layer. The remains are imbedded in a Red Clay, 

 and associated with heematitic iron ore. 



The author regarded a large cone as that of a true Pinus, and 

 branches of another coniferous tree as belonging to a Sequoia nearly 

 allied to S. Sternbergi, Heer ; of this a small imbricated cone might 

 possibly be the fruit. Other fragments of Coniferse seem to belong 

 to Cupressites or Taxites. The fossils consist chiefly of leaves of 

 true Dicotyledonous plants. The author identified some of these 

 with species of Mhamnites, Olea, Fagus, and Quercus. Leaves of 

 endogenous plants, such as Sedges and Grasses, occur not unfre- 

 quently. A large mass of fossil wood of dicotyledonous structure 

 was obtained from the ha?matitic conglomerate. Carpolithes are also 

 found. The vegetable remains are accompanied by a few elytra of 

 Beetles. 



The author remarked that these remains seem to differ as a group 

 from those of the island of Mull. Their alliance appears to be with 

 Mid-European forms, and they are certainly of Upper-Tertiary age, 

 probably Miocene. 



3. " Remarks upon the Basalt Dykes of the Mainland of India 

 opposite to the Islands of Bombay and Salsctte." By G. T. Clark, 

 Esq., F.G.S. 



The author described the general features of the country referred 

 to, and stated that the dykes which traverse it vary from 1 or 2 to 

 100 or 150 feet in width, and often extend many miles. They are 

 all basaltic, with a tendency to prismatic structure, but never co- 

 lumnar. The adjacent Trap is but little modified, only somewhat 

 hardened, so as to resist weathering ; by this means long, narrow 

 ridges, more or less deeply furrowed above by the weathering of the 

 basalt dyke itself, are produced. The general direction of the dykes 

 is parallel to the lines of volcanic vents ; those near the main axis of 

 the Concan lying W. and S., and those near the subordinate axis in 

 the Malseji valley, about E.N.E. and W.S.W. They run nearly 

 straight, and have their faces usually parallel, but sometimes swell out 

 or contract, or include a rider. The author considered that these 

 dykes were formed probably during the latest periods of volcanic 

 action in Western India. They probably belong, in his opinion, to 

 two periods, as dykes of different grain frequently intersect each 

 other. The dykes running N.E. and S.W. often traverse and slightly 

 dislocate those lying more IN", and S., and are probably of later date. 



4. " On Auriferous Rocks in South-eastern Africa." By Dr. 

 Sutherland. 



Fourteen years ago the author expressed the opinion that gold 

 would be found in the metamorphic rocks of Natal. A few months 

 since Mr. Parsons found this metal by washing the iron-sand of 

 some of the southern rivers of the colon}*. The gold is in micro- 

 scopic rounded grains. Dr. Sutherland considers that the gold is 

 diffused as minute particles in the granite and gneiss underlying the 

 Silurian rocks of South Africa. 



These old gneissic rocks are very much contorted, include ex- 



