Excerpt from A Description of the Soil-Geology of Ireland, 1907: Based Upon Geological Survey Maps and Records With Notes on Climate The Geological Survey of the United Kingdom was instituted in January, 1845, and its work commenced in May of that year. In Ireland, the southern counties first received attention, and the results of the operations carried on by the Irish branch of the Survey originally appeared on small-scale county maps. These maps were afterwards replaced by sheets on the scale of one inch to the mile, accompanied by Explanatory Memoirs - each sheet representing twelve miles by eighteen. The issue of the series of one-inch maps now obtainable commenced in 1857 and was completed in 1890, when the ordinary field-work of the Survey terminated. From 1890 to 1901 a small staff was retained for the purpose of bringing the published maps into conformity with recent geological work elsewhere, especially in Great Britain, the rapid progress of the science having rendered this necessary, in the case of the earlier survey-work. The examination of soils and subsoils formed an important part of the regular work of the Survey, for several years at the outset; and collections of samples were made throughout many of the townlands of Cork, Waterford, and Kilkenny. The exigencies of purely scientific research, however, and the demand for a greater rate of progress in the mapping, necessitated an abandonment of soil and subsoil examination, which was not resumed prior to 1901. The one-inch geological map of Ireland having been completed, the opportunity seemed favourable for presenting to the public a succinct account of the geology of the country, prepared chiefly from the standpoint of agriculture. My proposal to do this was approved of by my late chief, Sir Archibald Geikie, who, although the work should necessarily be ultra-official, sanctioned for the purpose the use of illustrations drawn from official sources, and free access to all official maps and records. The present work was undertaken in 1897, and the extent of my indebtedness to many authorities and friends is apparent throughout the text. To one who - no longer with us - held a leading place amongst English scientific and experimental agriculturists, I am especially indebted. To another - a director of the Agricultural department of an English college - I owe the suggestion that an account of Irish climate should form an important feature of the work. The manuscript of the book was handed over by Sir A. Geikie in 1901, to the Department of Agriculture. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from A Description of the Soil-Geology of Ireland, 1907: Based Upon Geological Survey Maps and Records With Notes on Climate The granitic gneisses of Erris (north Mayo), of the Ox Mountains, Connemara, and South Donegal, which, on account of 'lithological similarity to those of the North-west of Scotland, were supposed to be of Archaean age, are now known to be intrusive rocks, newer than the adjoining mica-schists, quartzites and limestones, and are represented accordingly: Other less important differences have also been duly noted upon the present map, with a view to bringing this into line with information obtained up'to 1900. It remains for me to explain that, having in view a class of readers more conversant, perhaps, with the industrial aspects of the subjects than the scientific, I have avoided, as much as pos sible, geological expressions which might be thought too technical, and have distinguished by capital initials, and otherwise, some which were unavoidable. To facilitate reference, paragraph head ings and other means have abundantly been used. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.