26 
CLENT HILLS BRECCIA. 
much impregnated with oxide of iron, which causes the mass to be 
red ; so much so that the stratified rocks rarely retain their 
original colour. 
These fragments are embedded in a matrix, which, on the surface 
where the weathering has been considerable, usually consists of a 
loose rubbly mass ; but whenever an excavation is made, it is found 
that the whole forms one hard mass, well cemented together, in 
which the stones are very thickly scattered. In connection with 
this, Mr. John Amphlett, of Olent, informs me that when some 
alterations were being made at Olent Cottage, the Breccia was so 
hard that it turned a pick directly, and so it had to be blasted with 
dynamite. I should also mention a visit made, on the 23rd of April 
last, to the Hill Tavern, Olent, to descend a well. The w T ell is 
96ft. deep, with 12ft. of water in it, down to which I was lowered, 
and remained in the well for over an hour making a close examina¬ 
tion of its sides. From the top to the water, i.e., 84ft., all was 
Breccia, the sides so hard that there was no brickwork, except a few 
feet at the top, and the circular form of the well was as perfect as the 
dav it was made, which was a considerable number of vears since. 
So exceedingly hard was the Breccia that it was necessary to have a 
chisel let down to get specimens, and even with this assistance some 
difficulty was experienced. Upon the sides were many pieces of ash 
here and there, which were about 6in. to 1ft. in diameter. At 
about 75ft. was a small piece of Llandovery sandstone. There is 
another well on Komsley Hill, which could be easily explored. Mr. 
Mellard Beade, who, in June last, spent a day with me on these 
hills, washed some of the matrix, and he found it, shortly, fine 
gravel and sand, made up of the same material as the larger stones ; 
mostly fragments and grains of ash. Only 6 per cent, was clay, 
and there is an absence of quartzose sand. The larger stones of the 
matrix are fairly well rounded. The smaller pieces of gravel are 
seen to have microscopic pebbles in them. It is mostly like boulder 
clay. The Wychbury specimens are less worn. 
Having now dealt with the matrix, the next subject is what is 
embedded in it. The fragments are very varied in kind and 
shape. In size they range from a grain to a piece 1' 1" x 1' 3" x 1', 
February, 1893. 
