300 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
The course of the second valley is nearly parallel with tlie first ; 
the spring-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. 
These 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 with the larger crack or valley, as is the case in 
all the quarries in the vicinity of Maidstone. The dipping of the 
strata is not always greatest according to the proximity to the line of 
disturbance; and but little variationals found from the horizontal 
position in the higher and more compact beds, although the abundance 
of vertical cracks and fissures testify to the great disturbances they 
have been subjected to at difterent 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 fossilii'erous, 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, ^ith a little Maguesia 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 
