On Rocks and Minerals from the Karakoram Himalayas. 487 



schistose grits. On the Pioneer Peak the first point reached on 

 the arete yielded schistose grits, one of which (a purple specimen 

 with small pebbles) occurred again at the second peak, striking 5 E. 

 of S., and dipping 35 to the east. It is evident that a considerable 

 mass of sedimentary rock must be infolded in the range from 

 Gusberbrum to Golden Throne. 



The valley of the Indus from Parkutta to Tolti (roughly S.W. 

 of the district last described) lies among alternating diorites and 

 granites. Higher up, from Himis to the turn for Lama-yuru, 

 or on either side of Leh, it is among fargillite and f slate (just like 

 the redder slate of Llanberis) ; these are said by Mr. Conway to be 

 "sandwiched" with granite. 



Again and again throughout this district of the Himalayas, rocks 

 bear evidence of severe pressure, the result of earth movements. 

 Putting aside those which are either certainly or probably of igneous 

 origin, we find three rather well-marked groups. One, fine-grained, 

 speckled gneisses, very similar to those which occur on the south 

 side of the Central Highlands of Scotland (e.g., about Blair Athol) ; 

 secondly, crystalline schists, limestones, and dolomites, doubtless 

 metamorphosed sedimentaries, several of which are practically iden- 

 tical with specimens described by one of us from the Lepontine and 

 Pennine Alps* ; and, thirdly, a group of sedimentary rocks (not 

 more than mechanically altered), which sometimes are very like the 

 Mesozoic rocks of the Alps, though occasionally some have a rather 

 more ancient aspect. With these the peculiar felstones of the 

 Golden Throne appear to be associated, and in one or two places the 

 presence of somewhat altered fragmental rocks is suggested. In all 

 probability the history of the Karakoram-Himalaya region is very 

 similar to that of the Alps. First is a great floor of crystalline rock, 

 partly igneous, partly metamorphic (in the more strict sense of the 

 word). On that was laid down (possibly with interruptions and 

 marked intervening disturbances and denudations) a aeries of sedi- 

 mentary rocks. This ended, all were affected bv a process of folding 

 on a gigantic scale and upreared into a mountain mass, which has 

 been carved, by the usual agents of denudation, into peaks and 

 valleys far surpassing in wilduess and grandeur even those of the 

 Alps.f 



* T. Q. Bonney, ' Quart. Jl. G-eol. Soc.,' 1890, vol. 46, p. 187; and 1893, vol. 49, 

 p. 89. 



t The following altitudes are taken from Mr. Conway's volume: Dasskaram 

 Needle, 17,660 feet ; Rash Ridge, 15,930 feet ; Hispar Pass, 17,650 feet ; Crystal 

 Peak, 19,400 feet ; White Fan Saddle, 18,750 feet ; Pioneer Peak (near Golden 

 Throne), about 23,000 feet (at least 22,600 feet). 



