108 Geological Society. 



Little Desert, on the south by the Gulf of Cutch and the Indian Ocean, 

 on the east by the province of Guzerat, and on the west by the eastern 

 branch of the Indus and the territory of Sinde. Its superficial con- 

 tents are about 6500 square miles. The surface is traversed by three 

 ranges of hills, having in general un east and west direction. The 

 hills constituting the northern chain, which borders the Runn, present 

 a perpendicular capping of sandstone, surmounting towards the north 

 a sloping talus, and towards the south an inclined plane, both com- 

 posed of laminated clay and slaty limestone, with occasionally layers 

 of sandstone. The second or central range, is constituted partly of 

 the formation last mentioned , and partly of another consisting of sand- 

 stone and shale. The third or southern, is formed wholly of volcanic 

 rocks, but has nearly the same linear direction as the others. 



To the south of the last range is an extensive flat, composed of a 

 deposit, considered by Capt. Grant to be tertiary, and of an alluvial 

 band, bordering the sea coast. 



The first of these formations, which constitutes the northern range 

 of .hills, abounds with Ammonites, Nautili, Belemnites, Trigoniae, and 

 other fossils characteristic of the oolitic system of England. The for- 

 mation of sandstone and shale, which occupies a much greater surface, 

 contains, in various localities, thin beds of coal, sometimes very im- 

 pure, but at others tolerably good j also layers of iron ore ; and in 

 the shale as well as in the sandstone, casts of reeds and impressions of 

 ferns are stated to occur. With respect to the relative age of these 

 two formations, Capt. Grant was unable to procure any decisive 

 information; but he thinks that the sandstone and shale system 

 passes beneath that of laminated clay and limestone. 



The iron ore is smelted by the natives to some extent, particularly 

 near the town ofDoodye. The variety generally selected, on account 

 of the imperfect apparatus employed, has a spongiform texture, small 

 upecific gravity, and is easily frangible. The ore is broken into small 

 pieces and disposed in layers, alternately with others of charcoal, in a 

 rude open furnace, acted upon by two small bellows made of sheep 

 skin. The metal on being fused, falls into a small hole at the bottom 

 of the furnace, whence it is removed into an inclosed furnace, and 

 subjected to the same blasts until it acquires a white heat, when it is 

 taken out and beaten into a bar. A considerable quantity of iron was 

 formerly made from another variety of ore, found in the superficial 

 soil at the north-western extremity of Cutch. 



In one part of the province, the author noticed a deposit of variegated 

 sandstone and marl, but was unable to determine its position with 

 respect to the other formations. It is covered, in part, by an aluminous 

 earth, on which rests a bed of red clay. The former, when visited by 

 Capt. Grant, had been burning spontaneously for a long time, sending 

 forth a suffocating sulphureous smoke. Considerable quantities of 

 alum are made from the earth and exported to Bombay. 



Another formation, described by the author, occurs south of Luck- 

 put, near the eastern branch of the Indus. It consists of soft and 

 hard, whitish limestone, containing innumerable Nummulites and 

 Fascioliles, also Echini, Spatangi, Ostrea and Corals. 



