214 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
were brought up with the augur, when we came to chalk, through which we 
pierced to the depth of twenty feet. 
It is observable that the water which stood at the level of twenty-three feet 
from the surface, was not at all increased by penetrating this teuaceous clay 
into the chalk. Several wells have been bored in the neighbourhood o^f 
]\Iinster thi'ough this strata, and water has risen to the sui-face ; but in every 
case the depth thi'ough the chalk was greater, though the total depch less.— 
G. DowKLR, Stourmouth-house. 
KoTES ON THE Geology of the Cotjis'try rouxd Newpout Pagnall. — 
Sir, — As I do not think much is known of the geology of this part of the 
country, I have made a brief summaiy of the chief features of the vicinity of 
Newjjort Pagnall, which I hope may be interesting. Just before reaching 
Wolverton (the nearest railway station to Newport), the train passes over a 
bridge built of forest marble, which is much quarried in the neighbourhood, 
being used both for road pm-poses and building-stone. The limestone abounds 
in shells and vegetable remains. Wolverton station is situated on the Oxford 
clay, in which, when the cuttings were bein^ made, many fossils were found — 
the usual forms, such as ammonites, belemnites, grypheae, ostrese, &c., prepon- 
derating. The nacreous or pearly shell still remained entire on the ammonites, 
which M'ere in a good state of preservation. In some places a thick layer of 
drift-clay covered the substratum ; in this remains of ammonites and echinites, 
evidently from the chalk and greensand, were found. 
If the road towards jS'ewjDort Pagnall be taken from Wolverton, tlie village 
of Great Lindford will be passed, where, in digging a well, some workmen 
found the bones of plesiosauri. But all around the town of Newport Pagnall 
itself, the Oxford clay is greatly developed, and a great many clay-pits have 
been dug in the brickfields ; in these the vertebrae and other bones, teeth, &c., 
of saui'ians, and the palatal-teeth of cartilaginous fishes are frequently found, 
with ammonites, belemnites, trigoniae, and many bivalve shells ; also the 
remains of coniferous trees and carbonized wood. The following is a section 
of one of the most productive clay-pits near Newport Pagnall. 
No. I is a layer of light-brown clay, with 
flints and fragments of a concretionary lime- 
stone, in which I have occasionally found 
fossils, such as portions of Ammonites Callo- 
viemis, alariae, &c., which are characteristic of 
the Kelloway rock. No bones are found at a 
less depth than twelve or fourteen feet from 
the sui-face, that is to say only in the clay 
marked 4. The laminated clays 3 and 4 abound 
in ammonites compressed between the layers. 
Septaria are sometimes found in the clay, and 
abundance of selenite and iron-pyrites, from the 
decomposition of which the crystalized sulphate 
of lime has doubtless proceeded by the action 
of the liberated sulphuiic acid or the calcareous 
particles of the clay. 
From Newport Pagnall the Oxford clay takes 
a north-west direction towards Olney, and the 
borders of Bedfordshire ; but its course is much 
concealed by beds of alluvial gravel of great 
thickness, which extend over a large tract of 
country. This gravel is largely employed for 
mending the roads, consequently there are 
several pits dug. It abounds in fossils (chiefly oolitic). I have also found 
Vegetable soil 
Clay with peb- 
bles, &c. 
Claj -with car- 
bonized wood. 
Laminated clay 
with ammo- 
nites, &c. 
Laminated clay 
with saurian- 
bones, &c. 
Section of clay -pit, Newport 
Pamall. 
