M Mr Hardic 07i the Geology of the 



about 2000 feet above the level of the sea, — ^is very scantil jr co- 

 vered with soil, and the strata are constantly observed protrud- 

 ing above the surface. The preponderating rocks have the 

 mineralogical characters of true granites, but are laminated in 

 strata generally of considerable thickness, or occur in the form 

 of regular prismatic masses, alternating with the other strata. 

 They vary considerably -both in respect of texture and composi- 

 tion. Some are very coarse granular, others are of a much 

 closer texture ; a common variety is a pegmatite composed of 

 large angulo-granular concretions of reddish felspar and trans- 

 lucent quartz, with scales of mica very sparingly interspersed ; 

 these are frequently altogether absent. This rock passes into a 

 closer granular variety in which the mica is more abundant. Ano- 

 ther variety is a sienitic granite, and this again passes insensibly 

 into hornblende rocks, some kinds of which resemble the green- 

 stones of the trap formation. The hornblende is occasionally 

 replaced by chlorite or steatite, or these occur in the same mass 

 with the other ingredients enumerated. Minute specks of a 

 greenish mineral, apparently cpidote, are very generally inter- 

 spersed through the substance of all of the above varieties, and 

 Schiller spar also occurs as an occasional ingredient. The fel- 

 spars of the sienitic granites and hornblende rocks are generally 

 of a greyish colour. 



About five miles to the westward of Meirta, we have a narrow 

 bed of a coarse granular crystalline limestone, or rather dolo- 

 mite, of a smokv white colour, with minute interspersed grains 

 of iron-pyrites *. This is succeeded by a rock composed of 



• Marble is of abundant occurrence in Central India, and is extensively 

 quarried for architectural purposes. The principal quarries in this neigh- 

 bourhood are at Kunkmowllee, a town situated on a lake about thirty miles 

 north of Meirta. The marble of this place is rather of a coarse texture, and 

 is interstratified with micaceous schist passing into gneiss and hornblende 

 rock. The strata are inclined, dip to the east of south, and present other pe- 

 culiarities which we have no space to enumerate at this time. Another 

 quarry, lately opened, is situated between the forts of Mandalghur and Hu- 

 meerghur in the east of Mdwar. The marble here is of a closer texture than 

 the last, and is of a pure white colour ; it occurs interstratified with the rocks of 

 the micaceous series, and is a very beautiful variety. A peculiarly elegant 

 temple belonging to a siek of Jains has lately been constructed of this marble 

 at Shapoora. The quarries from which the Agra and Dehlia districts have been 



