File:The Quarterly journal of the Geological Society of London (12895041495).jpg

1864..
BARENESS NORTU-EAST OF SCOTLAND.
439
form of Osteolepis, Coccosteus, and an Acanthodian. Coprolites and
vegetable remains also occur. The grey flaggy sandstones and
Fig. 4. — Section from the Nigg to Cambus-Shandivick, Ross-shire
(10 miles),
s.w. n.e.
g f
a. Footprint-bearing sandstones. e.
b. Conglomerates and purple sandstones. g.
c. f, h. Yellow sandstones. i.
d. Whitish sandstones with red blotches. k.
d c b a
Eed and yellow sandstones.
Thin corn stone.
Conglomerates.
Gneiss.
shales of Geanies are the equivalents of the Caithness flags, and, like
the latter, they contain, in the joints, asphaltum similar to that which
has recently been obtained from the Old Red Sandstone at Mount
Gerald, near Dingwall

• ,

but not in such great quantities. These
equivalents of the Caithness flags, measured from the top of the
Lower Old Red series to the point where they disappear under strata
referable to the Upper Old Red, have a thickness of about 350 feet,
and their dip conforms to the underlying and overlying strata, being
towards the N.W. at 25°. At Geanies the anticlinal before alluded
to is very distinct, the strata on the cliff having the usual inclina-
tion of the land-rocks, while on the shore the beds have a directly
opposite dip. Here the rocks forming the anticlinal sink, and con-
sequently newer beds present themselves than those towards the
south-west, where, as before stated, the axis rises in vertical position.
About a mile north-north-east of Geanies Hill, at Tarrol, the repre-
sentatives of the Caithness flags are succeeded by strata appertaining
to the higher members of the Old Red formation, and consisting of
whitish sandstones with red blotches, which continue along the coast for
about a mile and a half, to Rockfield. At Tarrol the anticlinal makes
a turn to the east for a short distance, but soon assumes its original
course. From Rockfield to Ballone Castle the same rock occurs, and
in this interval a slight roll is seen in the rocks on the coast.
A short distance north-north-east of Ballone Castle, the strata on
the shore consist of similar sandstones with flexures in them

and
about half a mile beyond Ballone Castle, in the cliffs, reddish shales,
reposing upon sandstone, and supporting white cherty strata, having
the normal north-west dip, are seen. These shales are in some
spots greenish white in colour, like those immediately overlying the
reptiliferous sandstones of Lossiemouth.
The surfaces of the flags associated with these shales are marked

Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xix. p.