456 
SOME DRIFT DEPOSITS NEAR LEEDS. 
BY EDW^N HAWKESWORTH. 
On Sheet 78 of the Geological Survey one-inch map, between 
the rivers Aire and Calder, which unite about five miles to the 
south-east, are two patches indexed as " gravel, third river 
terrace." The northerly one, which may be termed, conve- 
niently, the Rothwell Haigh patch, is roughly semi-circular 
in shaj)e, and is separated from the southerly, or Oulton patch, 
which is of deltaic form, by a well-defined wide valley, through 
which flows the Oulton Beck, The size of the valley seems 
quite disproportionate to that of the present stream. The area 
of each patch is about a square mile, and their elevation varies 
from about 150 feet to 275 feet above O.D.. but is mostly above 
200 feet. The Aire near here is about 50 feet and the Calder 
about 60 feet above O.D. The solid rocks of the area belong 
to the ^liddle Coal Measures, the Thornhill Rock, a thick sand- 
stone, forming a prominent feature on the southern side of the 
Aire valley. The recent deposits are so variable in character, 
even in a short distance, as the following particulars will show, 
that it practically is impossible to give measured and detailed 
sections. 
PRE\^ous Observations. 
These deposits seem to have excited little attention from 
local geologists. The only available mention appears to be 
by the members of the Geological Survey.* It is only brief, 
and, after mentioning their position and elevation, it states 
" the probability seems to be that they are river gravels of 
considerable antiquity, formed when the river was flowing 
at the level on which they lie." Only one section was seen, 
and that in the Oulton patch, the contents of which were about 
90 per cent. Coal Measure sandstones, with angular fragments of 
black or banded encrinital chert plentiful, also some large blocks 
and a few pebbles of Millstone Grit, and some angular and haK- 
rounded blocks of calliard. 
*Geol. Survey Mem. Yorkshire Coalfield, 1878, p. 783. 
