BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING AT NEWCASTLE. 
387 
esting fossil had been found in tlie 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 Eoth-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 Palao- 
siren Bei^nenti. 
The Sandstone of the xsToeth-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 requii-ement 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 Red 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 . 
Suljjhate of Magnesia 
Sulphate of Soda . 
Silica .... 
Oxide of Iron . . , 
Moisture . . , 
96-63 per cent. 
3 09 „ 
0-08 „ 
010 „ 
006 „ 
trace 
100-00 
The extent or area of this deposit it is not yet possible to estimate. On 
