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formations. Calcium occupies the fifth position as regards rela- 

 tive abundance amongst the rock-forming elements in the earth's 

 •crust. Locally we are bordered on two sides by masses of calcium 

 rock, whilst to the north the whole Hampshire Basin is fringed 

 with chalk. Calcium is distributed in various forms throughout 

 all fertile soils. Owing to the solubility of its carbonate in water 

 •containing carbon dioxide, it is common in rivers and springs. 

 Bones of animals, shells of birds' eggs and shell fish, and ashes of 

 many plants contain much calcium. 



Fortunately in England, iron, coal an<d calcium occur almost 

 within the same area, and this is largely responsible for our pro- 

 minent position amongst the world's producers and manufacturers. 

 Many cities owe their very existence to the presence of these three 

 minerals. The great value of calcium to such districts is that it 

 supplies, close at hand, a suitable flux for use in the smelting of 

 iron. 



Limestone rocks afford excellent building and paving material 

 though various grades and qualities differ in degree of durability 

 •and other qualifications. Dolomitic Limestone, Mountain Lime- 

 stone, Purbeck Limestone and Marble have assisted in erecting 

 and beautifying a large number of our most prized and valued 

 national edifices, and as such have contributed to special indus- 

 tries, e.g., those of quarrying and cement manufacture in the 

 limestone areas. Portland and Swanage practically owe their 

 existence to this cause, whilst, owing to modern invention and 

 commerce, equally notorious centres, such as Arne, have fallen to 

 decay. Such facts are strong indications of the inter-relationship 

 of productions and commerce which literally make one aspect of 

 geography, viz., that of commercial geography. Not only so, but 

 the abundance of building material stereotypes the scenery of the 

 landscape in the same manner. In limestone districts, for ex- 

 ample, in Swanage, the prevalence of stone in architectural work 

 is very prominent and produces an unique character in the scenery. 

 " Rubble " walls are only associated with such spots as Swanage 

 and the Pennines. Chalk, too, usually contains flints in great 

 abundance. Flint as a building stone characterises the scenery 

 of such a district. Thus in Kent, Norfolk, Essex, and the Eastern 

 Counties a type of flint architecture is common and is not met 

 with elsewhere. From this localised and special trades have 

 •sprung up, notably the flint knapping of such places as Brandon. 



The great limestone and chalk escarpment traverses the 

 country from roughly N.E. to S.W., forming an almost unbroken 

 belt from the mouth of the River Tees to the Isle of Purbeck. The 

 whole district is distinctly characterised by scenic and productive 

 qualities completely its own. Generally it is the boundary between 

 the metallic wealth of the mines and the finest agricultural land of 

 •our country. It is worthy of note that coal and iron are scarcely 

 to be found on the east of this great escarpment, although to the 

 west of it both are very abundant. 



