Geal Mag 1879. Decade II Vol. VI PLII Fig. 1. Diagrammatic Section from N. to S. to show general structure of District. Diagram to show Plateau of Marine Denudation at close of old Red Period. THE GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES. DECADE II. VOL. VI. No. II. FEBRUARY, 1879. ORIGINAL ARTICLES. L-ON THE PHYSICAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT. WITH NOTES ON THE POSSIBLE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE SKIDDAW SLATES. By the Rev. J. CLIFTON WARD, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. (PLATE II.) Introduction. In previous papers upon the Geology of the English Lake District, which I have had the honour of laying before the Geological Society, special considerations of theoretic significance have been dwelt upon, and in the official memoir upon the Geology of the northern part of the English Lake District, detailed facts have been brought forward and a sketch given (in chap. xii.) of the original relation of the formations to each other, and their physical history. I yet venture to think, however, that there is need of a general summary of the facts relating to Physical History which may reach a wider circle of readers than do the official memoirs, and which may stimulate further inquiries into this deeply-interesting subject. The following pages may therefore be regarded as a sequel to my former papers on the district, and in some measure as a last chapter to the story told thus far.' AGE OF THE DISTRICT. Our first inquiry is naturally-What is the age of this small mountain district of Cumbria? Do Scafell, Helvellyn, and Skiddaw stand up as modern products of the world's evolution, or are they very ancient monuments, bearing many hieroglyphics written by the finger of time? First then, if we sum up the rocky volumes at our disposal, we find the following geological formations represented :(d) Carboniferous and Basement Conglomerate. (c) Upper Silurian and Coniston Limestone Series. (b) Volcanic Series of Borrowdale. (a) Skiddaw Slates. Each of these series stands by itself, and is either separated from its neighbour by a long period of time, as is markedly the case between (d) and (c), and less so between (c) and (b), or by a decided change in physical conditions, as between (a) and (b). 1 For a list of the author's papers on the district see Appendix at the close of this memoir. DECADE II.-VOL. VI.-NO. II. 4 |