22 DESCRIPTION OF THE ROCKS 
as the feeble representatives of the upper limestone group of Voredale. 
An excellent section of these beds is afforded in the quarry on the 
bairn of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, near Thornton, where alter- 
nations of calcareous and argillaceous beds rest upon a thick mass of 
laminated and crinoidal limestone. (See Ding. No. 5.J The range 
of the beds lieie, as in most parts of the neighbouring country, is 
IM. E. Similar beds, with the same strike, occur at Lawley, 11 i m ini n g- 
ton, Twiston, Gisburn, Bradwell, Broughton, &c. 
Lotliersdule. — A very remarkable exhibition of these dark lime- 
stones appears in the narrow valley of Lothersdale, which is formed 
along an anticlinal axis, ranging nearly N. E., between hills of shale 
and grit. The limestone is dug in very large quarries, nearly in 
the middle of its range, where the general N. W. and S. E. dips are 
locally altered to N. E., and W. by N. (30°). The stone is hard, fine 
grained, thinly laminated, of a blue colour, and contains many lamina ? 
of chert, and cross strings of calcareous spar. This latter circumstance 
is always observed near the contortions and other dislocations which are 
so frequent in the laminated shales and dark limestones of Craven. In 
the eastern quarry on the south side of the valley, occur veins of 
sulphate of barytes, ranging E. by S. across the anticlinal axis, and 
dipping to the south. The limestone cheeks of the vein are altered 
in character. Sulphate of barytes likewise occurs in many of the 
joints which range N. W. and S. E. The dip of the beds is N. E. 
30°. Few traces of organic remains can be perceived. Shales and 
alternations of argillaceous limestone cover the I'ock. (See Diagram 
No. 6.J 
Skipton. — A similar and more extensive exposure of the same dark 
laminated limestone occurs in the valley of elevation which ranges from 
Skipton E. by N. to Bolton Abbey. The sides of this valley are 
formed of the Craven shales, surmounted by millstone grit, dipping 
each way from the limestone ridge to the S. by E. and N. by W. The 
axis of elevation is crossed by certain transverse undulations of the 
strata ranging N. and S., accompanied by parallel slips, and sparry 
