I 348 ] . 



LI 1 1. Notes on the New Red Sandstone of the County of Dur- 

 ham, below the Magnesian Limestone. By Wm. Hutton, 

 Esq. F.G.S* 



PROF. SEDGWICK, in an elaborate paper just published 

 in the Transactions of the Geological Society, has been 

 the first to point out the true relations of a bed of sandstone, 

 found underlying the magnesian limestone and conformable 

 to it, but unconformable to the coal measures. 



This sandstone had before been observed by Smith, who 

 figures it in his Geological Map of Yorkshire (published in 

 1821), as the Pontefract rock; but he mistakes its true nature 

 and value, and classes it with the coal sandstones. Professor 

 Sedgwick corrects this error, and very satisfactorily, upon a 

 general view of the whole formation, from Nottingham to the 

 banks of the Tyne, proves it to be a bed of new red sand- 

 stone subordinate to the magnesian limestone, and also points 

 out its analogy with the " rothe-todte-liegende" of the Ger- 

 man geologists ; thus adding another link to the chain connect- 

 ing the formations of this country with those of the continent, 

 and one which is of the more importance, as it serves to clear 

 up many doubts and difficulties which have hitherto existed, 

 in the comparison of our strata with those of Germany. 



In treating of the situation of rocks on a district of great 

 extent, it is absolutely necessary to consider the formations or 

 usual groupings of certain beds, under their general and more 

 prominent characters : — in this way, of course, Professor Sedg- 

 wick has considered the strata under review, and has, in a 

 very clear and comprehensive manner, pointed out their ge- 

 neral relations ; but when we examine the geology of a small 

 district, the different beds composing the formations cannot 

 be marked too minutely ; and this more especially, when these 

 beds possess any local interest, or ceconomical value. The 

 sandstone beneath the magnesian limestone, besides being a 

 member of our strata, with which we were not before ac- 

 quainted, is one of considerable importance to all the owners 

 of property where it exists, particularly to all those who may 

 have any intention of working coal beneath it. Considering 

 it in this view to deserve our attention, I beg to lay before the 

 Society the following details of an examination of its edge, 

 throughout the whole of the county of Durham, and the ideas 

 that have suggested themselves by the survey; and this I do 

 with the greater confidence, having had the advantage of the 



* Read before the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, 

 and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, April SO, 1830, and published in their Transac- 

 tions. 



skill 



