II. On beds of sponge-remains in the lower and upper Greensand of the South of England

Abstract

I have pointed out in this paper the occurrence in the Lower and Upper Greensand strata of the Wealden area, the Isle of Wight and the south-western counties, of beds of rock formed to a large extent of the detached spicular remains of siliceous sponges, and thus distinctly of organic origin. Their true characters have not been generally recognised, and they have usually been described as deposits of sandstone, chert, malm, hearthstone, firestone, &c. In the Lower Greensand these beds are mainly developed in the lower, or Hythe division, and they are exposed at Haslemere, Midhurst, Petworth, Godaiming, Tilburstow Hill near Godstone, Sevenoaks, Maidstone and at Hythe.