Geological Society. 455 



of this groupe, the author terminates his paper by connecting 

 their geological structure with that of the neighbouring con- 

 tinent of Italy. 



A paper was read entitled " Notes accompanying Speci- 

 cimens collected on a Journey through Part of Persia and the 

 Russian Tartaries;" by James B. Fraser, Esq. M.G.S. 



A paper was read entitled " Description accompanying a 

 Collection of Specimens made on a Journey through the Pro- 

 vince of Khorosan in Persia; " by Jas. B. Fraser, Esq. M.G.S. 



On quitting Teheran, the road passed by the roots of the 

 chain of Elburz through the pass Gurdunee Sirdara to Sem- 

 noon and Shahrood, over gravelly hills, having to the south 

 a salt desert and appearances of salt on all sides ; thence by 

 Mey Amood, Abassabad, Muzeenoon, and Subzawar to 

 Nishapore ; about 40 miles west of which place are found the 

 celebrated Turquoise mines, which are worked along the sides 

 and ridges of a narrow valley. The principal mine is called 

 Abdool Rezakee. The calai'te is found pervading a soft yel- 

 low stone and a mouldering reddish rock, as also a rock of 

 much firmer texture resembling quartz rock, of a grey colour 

 with reddish streaks, and containing specular iron. A con- 

 glomerate rock occurs in the vicinity. The mineral is found 

 sometimes in veins, sometimes mammillated in fissures, and 

 at other times irregularly dispersed through the rock. The 

 author describes all the mines actually worked ; they are the 

 property of the Crown, and were valued, when Mr. Fraser vi- 

 sited them, at the annual rent of 2000 tomauns of Khorosan, 

 or about 3,500/. sterling, and are farmed to the best bidder. 

 At Derroad, 25 miles from Nishapore, the primitive rocks of 

 Elburz appeared similar to those seen in the lofty range be- 

 tween Ispahan and Cashan. 



A paper was then read entitled " Geological Observation son 

 the Sea Cliffs at Hastings, with some Remarks on the Beds 

 immediately below the Chalk;" by Thos. Webster, Esq. 

 Sec. G.S. . . . 



This paper commenced with a geographical description of 

 the cliffs on each side of the town of Hastings, from the 

 White-rock on the west, to the end of Fairlee cliff on the 

 east, which form a very instructive natural section of an ele- 

 vated tract in Sussex surrounded by, and coming out from 

 under, the clay of the Wealds. 



These cliffs "consist of alternating beds of sandstone, shale 

 and clay, more or less charged with oxide of iron and car- 

 bonized "vegetable matter. The iron is most abundant in the 

 lower part, where there are beds of two or three inches thick 

 of rich argillaceous iron ore, that were profitably worked be- 

 fore 



