'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎34] (49/496)

XXXIV
sils in marls, and siliceous limestone, of a light pure color, full of flints, resembling
those of the chalk formation. These fossiliferous strata form the highest part of
the southern steep escarpment of the range, and occupy in perpendicular height a
space of at least 300 feet. In the marls which occur at the lower part of this de
posit, a series of bituminous shales are developed, full of large crystals of gypsum
and iron pyrites, in which occurs the coal seam, which varies from five feet to
a few inches. This carboniferous deposit appears to occur in the same position
through the whole of that part of the salt range west of Baghanwalla which we
have examined,—the coal at various points presenting a singular uniformity iu
appearance, being of a dull black color, with a brown streak, brittle, and contain
ing nests of half decomposed brown vegetable matter, and small crystals of gyp
sum. Its surface is here and there encrusted with a yellow iron alum—no doubt
the result of the reaction of the iron pyrites on the aluminous earths of the shales.
Beneath the carboniferous deposit and marl follows a succession of sandstones,
conglomerates, and indurated clays, generally of a blood-red colour, beneath which
occur the saliferous brick-red marls abounding in large angular masses of saccha
rine gypsum, and the extensive deposits of rock salt—the chief source of the
wealth of this part of the Punjaub. This salt marl appears to rest on a brownish
sandstone and conglomerates of the primitive rocks, none of which appear in situ
iu this disti ict. In the variegated sandstones below the carboniferous strata, so to
speak, vegetable impressions similar to those of Fuci were observed, associated with
ripple marks, but no other organic remains could be discovered. In the coal shales
no organisms could be found, these being accumulated in greatest abundance in a
limestone, almost formed of the debris of shells, immediately above the marl,
and gradually passing into the siliceous flint limestone, which in some places is
literally composed of small-chambered shells resembling nummulites. We are in
clined to believe that the coal deposit is of more recent date than that of the va
riegated sandstones on which it rests, and is either a miniature representative of
the oliate formation, or a member of the chalk, to which probably the siliceous
limestone belongs, though in some characters it resembles strata of more recent
date. This limestone dips with the inferior strata to the North West at a con
siderable angle, its northern slopes presenting a series of well cultivated valleys,
abundantly supplied with sweet water, which on the southern escarpment of the
range is very scarce and when it does occurs is generally a perfect brine. Towards
t le base of the northern slope of range, a series of soft friable sandstones, of a
greysh color interlammated with red and blue clays, make their appearance, and
.p towards the extensive plain intervening below the salt range and the Hazara
country. These sandstones are of a remarkably soft character, and rather deserve
r lnd T 1 ’ cemente d together by calcareous matter, which to-
limestonp 6 ^ eU ° r ° , the Smes occurs ia such quantity as to form a coarse
limestone Among the sandstone strata, patches of conglomerates of small pebbles
1 - “ ere i 0C . CU ''; the polios being in many instances composed of the flinty
.me tone on which these softer and more recent strata rest. In all the nullahs
from'thousand ' ! ' 7 , 7 " n SaUdSt ° ne Strata ’ S old is fou “ d > aild washed
andMoli ? 7 7 Y d,sm *' e S ra tlon, the villages of Tilleb, Taman,
n^hbomho d 7 S , u tl16 ara ° Uat ° f g ° ld yi0lded the saa ds in their
neighbourhood. Such is a brief outline of the geology of the salt range, written