PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
GEOLOGICAL & POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY 
m tf>e WU»U1XMnq of gorftaJKr*, 
AT THE THIRTY-NINTH MEETING, HELD IN THE TOWN HALL, 
DONCASTER, ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29TH, 1849- 
Earl Fitzwilliam, having taken the chair, observed, that 
he should not attempt to inflict upon them anything like a 
speech. He should, therefore, content himself by calling 
upon Mr. Haywood to read his paper " On the Formation 
and Destruction of Limestone." 
Previous to Mr. Haywood proceeding, however, the 
following gentlemen were elected Members of the Society : — 
Rowland Childe, Esq., Wakefield. 
Geo. Clarke Walker, Esq., Doncaster. 
Arthur Marshall, Esq., Headingley. 
William Simpson, Esq., Thumscoe. 
George Brodrick, Esq., Hamphall Stubbs. * 
The following paper was then read : — 
ON THE FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF LIMESTONE? 
AND SOME OF THE MINERALS WHICH ACCOMPANY IT. 
BY JAMES HAYWOOD, ESQ. 
In referring to the earliest periods of this earth's history, 
we have positive evidence of its having once existed in a 
purely incandescent state ; it consequently requires the assist- 
ance of very little chemical knowledge to convince us that 
such compounds as we now find upon its surface, could not 
