BEEKITE. 
1 1 
Possibly it might have been the discovery of this by Dr. Beeke, 
v^hich led to his name being associated with the mineral. Coming 
to a more recent date, we find a description and several plates in 
an “ Album of remarkable petrifactions,” by Leopold von Buch, 
Berlin, 1831. The plates, which are very well executed, show three 
specimens of Gryphsea columba, one of G. secunda, and two 
silicified oysters (unnamed), apparently all are from the Greensand, 
or lower chalk, but the exact formation is not given (though the 
great resemblance to the specimens found in the Chloritic sands 
of Antrim is a strong clue to their probable horizon). They all 
show well formed and easily recognisable Beekite, although this 
name is not used in the text, which is as follows — 
“ SiLICIFICATION OF SHELLS. 
‘‘The silicification of the calcareous test only takes place when 
there has been pre-existent animal matter. In this matter a small 
globule of hydrated silica forms, which rises and extends and 
probably changes its viscous state to another more solid, without 
however becoming perfectly hardened ; another globule attaches 
itself to the first, and pushes it from all sides forward similar to 
wave action. Other globules follow and surround the former ones, 
producing a similar wave effect. A system of waves is thus pro- 
duced with a raised centre, and this meeting with any system ot 
the same description forms a series of knobs or nipples rising one 
above the other. The calcareous portion of the shell is dissolved and 
carried away in solution, having been broken up by the siliceous 
intrusion, which occupies a larger space than the organic matter 
which attracted it, and now replaces the original shell, retaining 
its form.” 
(It will be noticed in the foregoing extract that the siliceous 
nature of the deposit is now fully recognized. This was not the 
case in the earlier extracts. Whether this was due to Dr. Beeke 
does not appear, as his name is not mentioned). 
The next paper is that read to the Geological Section of the 
British Association at Cheltenham in 1856, “ On the Beekites 
found in the Red Conglomerates of Torbay,” by Wm. Pengelly, F.G S. 
This paper is too long to quote in extenso^ but a synopsis of the 
salient points may be given. He says, “ The pebbles in the con- 
glomerates of Torbay are principally calcareous and trappean ; 
very many of the former contain fossils, all of them identical with 
those of the Devonian system, hence it may be inferred that these 
pebbles were derived from the adjacent limestone rocks, the red 
rocks are remarkably poor in organic remains. . . . Perhaps 
the most interesting things found in the conglomerates are the 
Beekites. . . . Without being closely examined they would 
probably be confounded with the pebbles with which they are 
associated and which they resemble in form and dimensions. 
They vary in size from half an inch to a foot in diameter, the 
common dimensions being from 3 to 6 inches. The surfaces are 
