UPPER CHALK. 
8.5 
ated.* The broken chalk in Falmer pit is in very 
small pieces, the angles of which are perfect ; a 
proof that, although minutely divided, it has not 
suffered by attrition. The sides of the valleys of 
the South Downs are universally composed of 
chalk, of a character precisely similar ; an a])j)ear- 
ance which, in all probability, has resulted from 
the ruin of the chalk cliffs having accumulated at 
their base. 
Brighton pits. There are several chalk-quarries 
in the vicinity of this celebrated watering-place ; 
but of these, one only is particularly worthy of 
notice.f The pit alluded to is situated near the 
church, and affords an excellent example of that 
fractured state of the chalk, which has been pre- 
viously mentioned. It is thus described by Sir 
H. Englefield : — “ The upper part of this chalk 
is in separate masses, not perfectly rubble, but 
with all their tender angles sharp, exactly as if just 
broken to pieces to put into the limekiln, and 
quite clean, nearly of a size, and almost without 
any chalk powder mixed with them.” Some re- 
markable veins of shattered flints occur in this 
quarry.I 
Preston. The quarry is extensive, and lies im- 
* A similar fact is mentioned by MM. Cuvier and Brongniart. These 
naturalists remark, that in the beds of the lower marine formation, and 
particularly in those of Liancourt, natural wells of considerable size are 
sometimes found, filled with ferruginous and sanily clay, and waterworn 
siliceous pebbles. Geolog. Traus. vol. ii. p. 208. 
This chalk is very pure ; a specimen, of the specific gravity 2*34, 
was composed of. 
Ciu-bonic acid 
43-4 
Lime 
56-0 
Silica 
0T> 
J Linncan Transactions, vol. vi. p. 108. 
G 3 
