Page:Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1838 Vol.2.djvu/216

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200
Mr. HUTTON on the Stratiform Basalt.

fathoms in it, two of which were in a Shale bed, and fourteen in the Whin, where they stopped, the vein in its lower portion having proved unproductive.

The Limestone in a quarry at Gallow Hill, north-east of Harrington, is much contorted; it is above, and must be very near the Whin, as immediately behind the farm house a quarry has formerly been worked in that stratum. To the north-east of this the Whin again appears in the front of the farm house at Green Leighton Dyke Head. At Newbiggin, near Fallowlees, at the southern extremity of the parish of Rothbury, columnar Basalt may be seen on the right bank of Fallowlees Burn.

On Ward Hill, south of Forest Burn, the Whin forms the capping of the hill above a Limestone. A seam of Coal is here worked below the Limestone at a spot called the Lea, or High Healey Hirst.

A large quantity of Iron scoria is found upon this hill, denoting it to be the site of an ancient Iron work: this circumstance probably induced a late trial to be made of the Whin itself as an Iron ore.

In Maggie Burn, which runs into Forest Burn, the Whin may be seen, but was no where found beyond this, until we reached a farm called Shield Dykes, about four miles north-east, the vale of the Coquet cutting through it. Near Shield Dykes, at a spot called Swinelee Hill, it makes its appearance in large masses above the surface, and is worked in a quarry for the use of the roads. The Whin is also worked for mending the great north road in Hampeth Quarry, a mile and half north-east of Shield Dykes. North of Snipe House, the "Whin is seen by the side of the road to Rugley.

At Rugley it has been quarried, as also at Green's Field, near the edge of Alnwick Moor, where it is three to four fathoms thick, and reposes upon a Shale of a light ash grey colour, used as a hone and sharpening stone. At Hope House, on the road side, below the tower at Swansfield, it has been formerly worked, but does not appear again until we reach Harlow Hill, near Denwick, on the opposite side of the valley, the denudation caused by the river Aln having removed it along with the other beds of the series.