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Geological Remarlcs upon the Neighbourhood of the Caspimi 

 Sea. By M. Eichwald of Wilna. 



(Conchtdedjrom page IS^.J 



All around we observe the same tertiary shell limestone. On 

 the soulh side of the Lake of Sich, about two versts from the 

 shore of the Caspian, thei-e is a high hilly chain ^ composed of 

 shell limestone, containing numerous rolled pieces of quartz, 

 some of them the size of a child'^s head. A similar shell lime- 

 stone occurs in front of Ssarachani, near the perpetual fire, 

 while on the opposite side a loamy earth prevails. Sandstone 

 does not appear in this neighbourhood. In this loam we find 

 fragments of shells principally of the Mytilus edulis, Cardium 

 edule and rusticum species, at present met with in a hving state 

 in the Caspian Sea. The sea appears to have retired from this 

 quarter at no very remote period. From Bakir to Sallian, the 

 hills and plains are composed of tertiary limestone, sandstone, 

 and various clays, and steppes of loam. Springs and rivulets, 

 naphtha, and also salt lakes, occur around Sallian, as around 

 Baku. 



Island of Tschelehaen. — The naphtha springs of the island 

 of Tschelekaen, on the east coast of the Caspian Sea, are not 

 less numerous than around Baku, but the naphtha is far from 

 being so pure, and, on burning, emits a much more offensive smell. 

 They occur chiefly in the sand-hills, so numerous in the island. 

 Some wells are twenty or thirty fathoms deep. The Black 

 well is remarkable on this account, that it has afforded for 100 

 years the same quantity of naphtha, viz. ten pud daily. It 

 swims on a saline water, which is somewhat sulphureous, and is 

 used as a remedy in many diseases by the Truchmener. The 

 greater number of wells continue for 2 — 4, seldom 20 — 40 

 years. Other naphtha wells are situated in a greyish clay, 

 which forms horizontal strata. The sand is sometimes concreted 

 into a kind of sandstone. The other rocks in the island are 

 boulders of rocks different from the surrounding formation, 

 brought from a distance by some natural agent, or thrown upon 

 the coast by the waves. The salt in the island, occurs chiefly 



