22 LIAS IN SHROPSHIRE AND CHESHIRE. 



which occur in the Cotteswold Hills, where the strata of Inferior Oolite dip in opposite 

 directions, and at high angles of inclination. Detailed accounts, however, of these 

 phenomena do not fall within the province of this work, and a correct acquaintance 

 with them can be only obtained by long and patient research. 



On an Outlier of Lias in the North of Shropshire and South of Cheshire, 



Relying upon the general belief of English geologists, that the low country of North 

 Salop and the South of Cheshire was occupied exclusively by the New Red Sandstone 

 or detritus covering that formation, I did not, during the first three years of survey of 

 the adjoining country, extend my researches beyond the Hawkstone and Hodnet Hills, 

 lying about fifteen miles to the north and north-north-east of Shrewsbury. In October, 

 1834, I accidentally learnt that sinkings in search of coal, had been prosecuted to some 

 extent in the district between Whitchurch and Market Drayton. On examining the 

 district I was soon convinced that the black shale, supposed by the inhabitants to be 

 coal shale, was nothing more than Lias, as was proved by an abundance of fossils ; and 

 that far from being confined to one spot, this formation, though much obscured by gravel 

 and clay, could be detected over a considerable area. I also found that this mass of 

 Lias was deposited in a basin, of shape more or less elliptical, from beneath which the 

 New Red Sandstone rises to the south in the hills of Hawkstone, to the south-east at 

 Market Drayton, to the east at Belton, to the north-east in the rising grounds extending 

 towards Nantwich, and to the north-west in the undulating country near Whitchurch. 

 (See Plate 29. fig. 2. and this wood-cut.) 



* Superficial Gravel, &c. a. Marlstone. b. Lower Lias, 



c. Saliferous Reel Marl. d. Red Sandstone. 



The western boundary is ill defined, owing to the low and featureless form of the ground 

 and its being covered by vast accumulations of gravel, sand, and peat-bog. It is, 

 therefore, possible that the Lias may extend in this direction to some distance ; but, 

 even assuming that it does not, and limiting the boundary by a line passing from Wem 

 and Edstaston to Burley Dam, east of Combermere, places where the formation has 



