Abstract
IN NATURE, vol. xxii. p. 460, there is a description of a bed, or rather beds, of peat in the drift at Oldham. A few days ago I had an opportunity of examining the section described by Mr. Jas. Nield, and under his guidance, but I differ from him in opinion as to the age of the peat. The section occurs on the steep sloping side of a valley, and just above it there is an exposure of sand covered by boulder clay. In my opinion some of the latter has simply slipped down, off the sand, on to the surface of the peat at a lower level; or it may have been excavated and thrown down for the purpose of obtaining the underlying sand. Besides, the principal bed of peat rests on blue silt, which again rests on boulder clay. The upper bed of peat occurs at one end of the section, and both ends present the appearance of a talus of débris from a higher level. Still the section is somewhat obscure, though a few hours' digging at a right-angle to its present exposure would probably prove the blue silt and peat to be more recent than the boulder clay, although the latter is certainly the highest bed in the section as at present exposed. However, geologists are indebted to Mr. Nield for calling attention to the section, and no doubt he and others will take means to prove the true position of the peat, which is sure to attract considerable attention.
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MORTON, G. A Peat Bed in the Drift of Oldham. Nature 22, 511 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/022511a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/022511a0
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