2^6 Mr. Farey’s Account of 
nodules of great extent, or rather, perhaps, rudely crystallized 
masses of slate, green-stone, sienite, basalt, &c. &c. forming 
hills or mountains (often intersected by mineral veins) from 
the tops of which masses, the red marie has in most instances 
been denudated. It remains a task of great difficulty, yet to 
be accomplished, to ascertain the lower part of the British 
series of strata, thus only exposed to view, in local and uncon- 
nected tracts, or basins, which are in part often concealed by 
gravel (frequently so, near their borders), and towards which 
investigation, little has yet been done. It seems to me, that 
there are three distinct series of coal-measures, if not more, 
separated by thick strata of red earths, or marles, not easily 
distinguished from the upper one above the coal series, or 
that which underlays the lias strata, as abovementioned, and 
by thick strata of limestones ; each of which red earths, pro- 
bably, produce anomalous and local strata, or crystallized 
mountain masses, in different places, where they form the 
surface, and the fact of such containing no organic remains, 
may not have arisen from their having been formed before 
organized beings existed, as those contend who call them 
primitive rocks, but because the circumstances proper to crys- 
tallization, were unfitted to the propagation and life of either 
animals, or vegetables ; and may it not be doubted, whether 
crystallized masses, great or small, are ever the seats of re- 
liquia ? 
The northern part of Derbyshire, and the adjoining parts 
of the surrounding counties, present a denudated tract, and 
partake of this uncertainty, as to what place in the lower part 
of the British series of strata, its strata should be referred : 
from many circumstances, I am inclined to consider the coal- 
