Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 4.djvu/30

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Impressions of the bark of a plant resembling a cactus or euphoria, (Sowerby, tab. 49.) from Murton Main colliery and (Parkinson, vol. i. tab. 1. fig. 6.) from Benwell colliery. In coal.

Vegetable impressions (vide Parkinson, vol. i. tab. 3. fig. 1.) from Gateshead Fell. In sandstone.

Cast of a cane-like vegetable, (Parkinson, vol. i. tab. 3. fig. 3.) from near Coley hill dyke; and (Parkinson, vol. i. tab. 5. fig. 8.) from Muston colliery.

An aggregate of black quartz crystals diverging from centres; having the interstices filled with yellow ochre. It is a mineralized tree, and if found at Bigge's main colliery, and often in large masses on the sea beach.

Bivalve shells[1] resembling those of the freshwater muscle, in dark-grey ironstone, from Wylam and Muston collieries.

Bivalve shells resembling the preceding but much less in size, in a stratum of black shale and ironstone; from the rocks in the Tyne at Low Lights, and from Heaton Dean, near Busy cottage.

Bivalve shells like the last, about half the size of freshwater muscle shells, in black shale, from Hebburn colliery, at the depth of 130 fathoms. These shells are generally less common in the shale than in the ironstone that accompanies it.

I have only to remark on the preceding catalogue that it contains no marine genera; and I do not believe that any marine shells, zoophytes, or corallines have ever been detected in the coal measures of this district.

  1. Very similar shells are found in the Clackmananshire coal-field at North Alloa, in that of Staffordshire at Tividale, and in the great coal-field of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, where the bed of ironstone that contains them is culled the Muscle band. [Communicated by Mr. Warburton.]