OS1/5/19/43

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Parish of Eyemouth -- W. Beatty -- 3

Eyemouth (parish) -- Eyemouth parish -- continued from page 2

The geology of the parish is in some respects very interesting, though occasionally very difficult to be correctly described - partly from the want of opportunities, in some places of ascertaining the succession of the rock formations, and partly from the indistinct character of several of these rocks. even where they are sufficiently exposed to view - as, for instance, on the sea coast
speaking generally, it may be described as a district consisting of greywacke and greywacke slate, with subordinate rocks of trap, and slight traces of old red sandstone - The greywacke occupies only a small portion of the parish, though in the neighbourhood, especially towards the west, it is a very abundut rock; the large parish of Coldingham being almost entirely compose of it - This rock we trace in the bed of the Eye. throughout all its extent, the strata varying, exceedingly both in direction and in inclination; though, generally speaking, they are elevated at a Considerable angle, not infrequently perfectly vertical __ The prevailing direction of the strata is from West to East - In composition bears the same general character throughout the parish, being compact and fine grained - It forms a very good building stone, and is the principal mineral employed for that purpose __ The Trap and porphyry rocks are more abundant; they present themselves on the western side of the bay of Eyemouth; but their exact position, with reference to the greywacke on the opposite side of the bay, it is by no means very easy to ascertain, the space being constantly under water - These trap and porphyry rocks form very considerable precipices all along the Coast, and the scenery, in consequence, is in various places highly picturesque.- With little interruption they continue from the town of Eyemouth to St. Abb's Head, beyond which the greywacke again appears; but how far they extend into the interior cannot be easily ascertained, though probably the distance is inconsiderable -
Of these trap rocks the principal are trap-tuff and feldspar porphyry, the former being most abundant - The trap-tuff occasionally contains large masses of porphyry, a good deal of the green one of copper, and large portions of greywacke - Occasionally, also the finer portions of this rock assume such an appearance of stratification, as is apt not a little to puzzle the observer - An attentive examination, however leads to the conclusion that, instead of stratification, it ought rather to be considered as a modification of Structure - This appearance is particularly observable beyond the bay of Killiedraught, at the western extremity of the parish, it being exceedingly difficult, in examining several parts of the cliffs in that direction, to say whether they are stratified or unstratified, whether they are trap or a variety of greywacke -
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Christine Y

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