XXXiV _ GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF 
tibba, though clay-slate forms the mass of the mountain, and is immediately succeeded by the mica 
slate and gneiss series. The clay-slate sometimes passes insensibly into what has been called quartz 
rock and even grauwacke in India, and in others into mica slate, which is, in some instances, fine grained 
and dark coloured, so as hardly to be distinguished from clay-slate. Mr. Everest, in proceeding from 
Mussooree, along the Ganges to its sources, mentions that quartz sandstone soon became the predominant 
rock, and that the slate had nearly disappeared, being only found in the lowest ground, opposite Balla- 
haut. The line of junction of the two was seen only a few feet above the level of the river. Somewhat 
before this, the slate had partly assumed the appearance of talc-slate, having a faint glimmering lustre and 
a soapy feel. Beyond Ballahaut, he continued travelling near the line of junction of the two formations, 
the slate gradually passing into a perfect talc-slate, and the quartzy sandstone becoming rather more 
crystalline than before. Perhaps the name of quartz-rock might be more appropriate to it, though it 
still exhibited, in some places, traces of round grains agglutinated together. About Batwaree, the quartz 
sandstone ceases on the low ground, and the slate contains a mixture of quartz and felspar, forming a 
talcose gneiss, with hornblende occasionally intermixed. Traces of the quartzy sandstone yet remain 
upon the cliffs above, for some miles farther to the north, where a gradual passage of it may be observed 
into the talcose gneiss.—J.A.S., Dec. 1835, p. 692. 
In the upper Section, No.1, after the sandstones of the Nahun and Jytuk ranges, red marl, with 
veins of carbonate of lime, is seen in descending to the Julal river ; and this is suceeeded by the lime- 
stone and clay-slate series. About Booraree, mica slate, with crystals of hornblende, is met with, and 
iron pyrites in the valleys on both sides; mica slate succeeds, occasionally fine textured, and scarcely 
to be distinguished from clay-slate : in ascending to Phagonee, it becomes coarse grained, and in some 
places abounds in garnets. Near Phagonee, a large vein of iron is seen, and some coarse grained crys- 
talline limestone; after which we pass to gneiss, before reaching the projecting masses of granite which 
form the summit of the Choor Mountain. Above Chowrass, a granite vein, running east and west, is 
seen crossing the mica slate. In descending, on the N.E. gneiss and mica slate, with garnets, are again seen. 
‘Near Chepal, iron ore oceurs, and the slate becomes talcose in the bed of the rivulet, and a coarse plum- 
bago slate is seen near the Soonth. The same formations are repeated in proceeding towards Changshill 
and Kedarkanta. In ascending to Bumpta, the slate becomes very quartzose, with layers of mica, occa- 
sionally assuming a granitic structure. On Urukta, mica slate, with garnets, is found, and often with 
nodules of quartz. In the descent by Deyra, the slate is met with containing grains of magnetic iron, 
in sufficient quantity to be profitably worked, and which has been named Hornblende Slate by Mr. De 
la Beche (Manual, 3d Ed., p. 435): it is associated with gneiss and mica slate. 
Gneiss.—The system of slates is succeeded in the section by a more uniform formation of gneiss. The 
extent of which will vary according to our view of what is gneiss. Capt. Herbert calculated the gneiss to 
be of great breadth, forming a band of which the lowest point is 2,800, and the highest 25,709 feet high, 
thus including the lofty peaks and the snowy range; as he says: ‘The highest peaks are everywhere 
composed of gneiss, the strata of which may be clearly distinguished, when bare of snow, through a 
_ telescope. Granite has nowhere been found except in veins, and these veins are generally small, with one 
_ exception—Whangtoo on the Sutlej.” In this Capt. H. was incorrect, according to the testimony both of 
Dr. Falconer and of the Rev. Mr. Everest (v. infra). “The gneiss is of very various character, as far 
as colour and si are concerned, though always very regular, consisting of the usual ingredients, 
pportions ; garnets, schorl, kyanite, carbonate of lime, green quartz, and’ hyacinth, 
are chs Gately Seibcdided sedis: A speck of native gold has been found in a specimen from 
one of the granite vems.”— Gleanings of Science, v.3, p. 268. 
Gneiss is found in many of the Passes, associated with chlorite and hornblende schists, as well as quartz 
rock, sometimes passing into micaceous schist; it is often found in the vicinity of granite, but is soon 
succeeded 
