Roger,
Portland stone and the Oolite series are not the same. The
Oolites (Inferior and Great) are Middle Jurassic, whereas the Portland
beds are Upper Jurassic, with the Cornbrash, Oxford Clay, Corallian,
and Kimmeridge Clay separating them.
roger gosling wrote:
>I have never been into the catacombs or other underground parts of Paris - must do one day.
>
>Is it true that the band of oolitic limestone that starts in the Cotswolds (ie Cotswold stone),
>going south through Bath area (ie Bath stone - a bit darker than Cotswold stone), then further south
>becoming Portland Stone (a bit darker still) is the same band of oolitic limestone that I believe is
>in evidence in Paris? If so how long does that make the North to South extent of it? Does it go much
>further South than Paris? I have been intrigued about this for a while, but have never found an
>authoritative answer - not that I have looked too hard mind. Geological maps of France are not so
>easy to understand.
>
>Roger
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From:
>To: "Subterranea Britannica" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: 17 August 2003 16:01
>Subject: [SUB-BRIT] Msg from - Secret Paris
>
>
>>Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 23:25:44 -0700
>>From:
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: FW: [SUB-BRIT] Secret Paris
>>
>>Yes, the catacombs of Paris are fascinating.
>>
>>Small detail: only a tiny part of them have bones. There are some 300 kms of
>>tunnels in all, of which perhaps 250 metres have bones. The small section
>>open to tourists, at Denfert-Rochereau, has loads of bones (that's partly
>>why it's of touristic interest), hence everyone thinks of bones when they
>>think catacombs.
>>
>>A superb book about underground Paris, with much on the catacombs, is "Atlas
>>du Paris souterrain", edited by Alain Clement and Gilles Thomas. You can buy
>>it at
>>
>http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/2840961911/qid%3D1058543714/br%3D1-6/ref%3Dbr%5Flf%5Fb%5F5/402-9314503-1432144.
>
>>It has loads of pictures and is knowledgeably written. Worth getting even if
>>you don't speak French because of the great pictures.
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From:
>>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 10:42 AM
>>To: sub-brit
>>Subject: [SUB-BRIT] Secret Paris
>>
>>
>>Whilst in Paris a week or so back I paid a visit to the catacombs, which was
>>interesting if a little macabre - I prefer my tunnels without
>>
>
--
Chris Salter,
DMCS, Department of Materials,
University of Oxford Begbroke Science Park,
Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxford, OX5 1PF
Tel 01865 283722, EPMA 283741, Mobile 07776031608
