300 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



The course of the second valley is nearly parallel with the first ; 

 the spriug-head is a short distance from Chislet Park. Several smaller 

 streams, having their origin in the Lower Chalk, fall into this valley 

 after running over the gault and passing through channels formed 

 by divisions or cracks in the ragstone beds. At Maidstone the stream 

 mingles with the Medway. 



Tliese two cracks or valleys in the ragstone are situated on the 

 east side of the Medway ; the west has no such breakage of the strata 

 into vales, but by its compactness turns the course of the river from 

 south-east to north-west, which latter direction it takes on passing 

 the town of Maidstone. 



The land is of considerable elevation on the west bank of the river, 

 and the ragstone is found in larger beds ; in some situations very 

 near the surface. 



As a general rule it may be laid down that, in this district, the 

 faults run parallel witli the larger crack or valley, as is the ease in 

 all the quarries in the vicinity of IMaidstone. The dipping of the 

 strata is not always greatest according to the proximity to the line of 

 disturbance; and but little variation is found from the horizontal 

 position in the higher and more compact beds, although the abundance 

 of vertical cracks and fissures testily to the great disturbances they 

 have been subjected to at difierent periods of time. 



The Kentish Eagstone series consists of limestones, with alternating 

 beds of soft sandstone, called " Hassock" by the workmen. In some 

 parts beds of dark flint or chert are substituted for the limestone. 

 The average thickness of the layers is about 12 inches, and the 

 stone is of various degrees of hardness and compactness, the lowest 

 being the most fossiliferous, and having moreover characteristic dis- 

 tinctions from the upper in colour, texture, and fossil remains. In 

 some layers the distinctions are difficult of detection, but these ob- 

 servations apply to the ragstone within five miles of Maidstone, and 

 as far only as my own experience goes. 



The analysis made for Professor Phillips's " Observations on the 

 Kentish Eagstone " gives the following proportions : — 



Carbonate of Lime, with a little Magnesia 92"6 



Earthy matter 6*5 



Oxide of Iron -5 



Carbonaceous matter "4 " 



100-0 



It may be interesting here to describe my own quarry in these 

 much valued stone-beds, and which is known now as the " Iguanodon 

 Quarry," from_ the discovery in it of the gigantic remains of that 

 enormous reptile. It is the largest in Kent, and produces stone of 

 very excellent quality. The number of layers of building- and road- 

 stone is 21, alternating with beds of hassock, and the vertical 

 depth worked is 75 feet. The strata here have no dip, although 

 they are traversed by numerous vertical cracks and fissures. A bed 



