Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 1.djvu/332

 unstratified rocks broke through, and appeared above the surface; and as these have been thrown up in a line between N. and S. the bearing of the elevated strata ought in general to be parallel to that line, and this has been shewn to be the case: the force would be greatest at the point where the unstratified rocks burst forth, and accordingly we find the strata there generally vertical, and in those places where they dip towards the range, they seem to have been raised, not only into a vertical position, but even thrown back and in some degree inverted.

The elevation of the strata in different places, forming the low hills which occur on the western side of the range, and in which the strata exhibit such remarkable changes in their position as at Stony-way quarry, Eventon quarry, and the quarries near Ledbury, seems to point out very distinctly, that the force has acted unequally, and has had an occasional increase in different places, sufficient to throw up the strata, but not so great as to raise the unstratified rocks. above the surface. The bending up of the ends of the strata into a vertical position, where they crop out, as is represented in sketch No. 2, clearly shews that they have been acted upon by some violent force.

With regard to the red sandstone of the plain on the eastern side of the Malvern Hills, it is very evident that it has been produced from the disintegration of other rocks; but it is not I think equally clear that it owes its origin to the detritus of the unstratified rocks of this range. For if that were the case, it would probably be found on the western side as well as on the eastern, but not a vestige of it is to be seen there; and instead of a level plain beginning immediately at the foot of the hills, there would be a gradual slope towards the east. It appears to me more likely that this red sandstone existed previous to the elevation of the range, and that it covers stratified rocks similar to those found on the western side;