A FOSSIL TREE AT CLAYTON, YORKSHIRE. 
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A FOSSIL TREE AT CLAYTON, YORKSHIRE. 
BY W. S. GRESLEY, F.G.S. 
As it is very rarely that an opportunity offers of seeing 
and (for those who wish it) examining a really good specimen 
of the remains of a fossil tree in situ, it has occurred to me 
that a short description of what is undoubtedly the finest or 
most perfect example of a fossil of this description hitherto 
discovered in Great Britain, if not in the world, would be 
interesting to readers of this magazine. 
Most of us probably will be unable to pay the fossil a 
visit, but I can assure those who are particularly interested 
in fossil botany, and in the question of the formation of coal, 
that an inspection of it will amply repay them for undertaking 
the journey. I am informed that the owner of this unique 
object is not likely to allow it to be removed from its natural 
position ; at all events for the present. 
Locality. About three miles to the south-west of Bradford, 
and about four to the north-east of Halifax, at the Fall Top 
Quarries at Clayton, which are worked by Messrs. J. Murga- 
troydand Son. The situation is high upon the hills (perhaps 
GOO or 700 feet above sea level), but is within ten minutes’ 
walk from either the Clayton or the Queenberry Railway 
Stations on the Great Northern Line (Bradford and Halifax 
section). 
Geolocfical Horizon. The fossil tree occurs in the sandy 
shales of the Lower Coal Measures or Ganister series; in 
beds which overlie the Elland Flagrock, a well-defined and 
persistent geological boundary, dividing the Lower Coal 
Measures into two distinct parts; the upper embraces the 
strata beneath the Silkstone or Blocking Coal; the lower, 
the measures containing the Halifax Hard and Soft Coals- 
The quarry is wrought for landings, flags, building, paving, 
and roofing slabs, and it was whilst removing the “ baring ” 
that the fossil was discovered. The strata dip about 1 in 10 
to the south-east. The bed containing the specimen is a bluish- 
grey micaceous sandy shale, containing numerous fossil roots, 
and here and there streaks of coaly matter. It occurred 
about twelve feet beneath the surface and nearly the whole 
of the covering has been carefully removed so as to completely 
expose the whole of the fossil with the exception of the 
extremities of one or two of the roots, which either pass 
downwards into the shale, or run out of sight into the face of 
the quarry. 
