BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING AT NEWCASTLE. 387 



esting fossil had been found in the Lower Permian or Dyas of Dr. Gei- 

 nitz, in the neighbourhood of Braunan, north-east of Bohemia, by Dr. 

 Bernent. It was found some years ago in a slab of grey marl slate,, be- 

 longing to the Lower Roth-liegende, not to the Kupfer-schiefer. Captain 

 Ibbetson had proved the relation of this class of fossils with the living siren 

 {Lacertina) of North Carolina, so that he was persuaded he had in the fossil 

 an old and gigantic siren or salamander, whose dimensions exceeded those 

 of the living species about ten times. There were preserved three and a 

 half vertebrae, with a part of the skin, and the name proposed was Palceo- 

 siren Bernenti. ■•■■■•<•' 



The Sandstone of the North-East of Scotland. By Professor 

 Harkness. 



On Rock-Salt at Middlesbrough. By Mr. John Marley. — The 

 paper was a sketch of the discovery of rock-salt at Middlesbro'. Messrs. 

 Bolckow and Vaughan, who have proved this salt, were the first to com- 

 mence ironworks at Middlesbro' some twenty -three years ago ; also, were 

 the first to make the practical application of the discovery of the Cleve- 

 land ironstone fifteen years ago, and opened their Eston ironstone mines, 

 near Middlesbro', thirteen years ago, having since then vended about six 

 million tons of ironstone therefrom. In 1863 they have the honour of the 

 discovery of salt in that district. The requirement of fresh water by 

 Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan, in connection with their ironworks at 

 Middlesbro', being large, they commenced, about four years ago, to sink 

 a well. The shaft was carried to a depth of 180 feet ; and owing to the 

 top feeders being in connection with the flow of the tide in the river Tees, 

 and consequently brackish, they were tubbed back with metal tubbing, 

 and others being freshwater feeders were also tubbed back, but arranged 

 with sluices so as to be available when required. The supply of fresh 

 water not being considered sufficient, a very large bore-hole was com- 

 menced, about a year ago, from the bottom of the shaft, at the depth 

 stated, under the direction of Mr. Homersham, C.E., of London, and, with 

 the boring machinery of Messrs. Mather and Piatt, of the Salford Iron- 

 works, Manchester, worked by steam and flat wire -rope, a bore of 18 

 inches diameter has been put down to the present extreme depth of 1306 

 feet. In going through the Red Sandstone, the maximum rate attained 

 was 13 feet in thirteen hours' shift, i.e. 1 foot per hour; and even when 

 upwards of 1100 feet deep, a rate of 3^ feet per thirteen hours, or 3 inches 

 per hour, has been attained. The details of the nature of the strata bored 

 through is given in the sections, and belong to the Upper New Bed Sand- 

 stone or Trias formation, the same as the rock-salt deposits of Cheshire. 

 The rock-salt was first pierced at a depth of 1206 feet, and the bottom is 

 not yet proved, but' is already 100 feet into it. The quantity and quality 

 of the brine has not yet been fully tested, but the author had received the 

 following analysis : — ' 



Chloride of Sodium 

 Sulphate of Lime . 

 Sulphate of Magnesia 

 Sulphate of Soda . 1 

 Silica 



Oxide of Iron . . 

 Moisture 



96^63 per cent. 

 3-09 „ 



trace 

 0'04 



010 '* 

 0'06 „ 



100-00 



The extent or area of this deposit it is not yet possible to estimate. On 



