408 W. H. Tioeketrees—The S. W. Slojjes of the Urals. 



conformably overlain by Lower Permian sandstones and conglome- 

 rates with gypsum. A succession of marls of various colours, almost 

 unfossiliferous limestones, pebble-beds and sandstones then occupy 

 the country till the Magnesian Limestone is reached. I have 

 repeatedly searched the lower limestones for fossils, but the only 

 traces of anything are obscure tubular branching substances, which 

 I could not with certainty identify as organic. Besides these, were 

 faint markings which might be fucoidal. From the grits and mud- 

 like shales of a copper mine at Darghina, fifteen miles S.W. of 

 Voskresensk, I obtained several species of TJnio and many ferns. 

 With the identification of these I have only proceeded thus far : — 



Odontopteris Permiensis (Brongn.) 

 Gyatheites Schlotheimi, var. latifolius (Gropp.) 

 Callipteris (Brongn.) sp. 

 Heuropteris salicvfolia (Fischer). 

 Neuropteris tenuifolia (Sternb.) 



The conglomerate of the Krasnaia Gora, W. of Voskresensk, which 

 reposes on the compact limestone, contains many rolled fragments 

 of the fossiliferous Carboniferous Limestone, which, in spite of the 

 apparent conformity, would suggest a Post-Carboniferous movement 

 taking place in Lower Permian times. 



Near Voskresensk some of the conglomerates are cupriferous, but 

 the pebbles render the ore intractable in the furnaces. The ore 

 averages 4 to 5 per cent, fine copper. Experiments are being 

 made with a view to gain the copper by the humid process, and 

 have proved successful when conducted on a laboratory scale. 



These lower rocks of the Permian form a very distinct division 

 of the formation, and are, I suppose, the equivalent of the Eothlie- 

 gende. I have not seen any vertebrate remains from this division. 



The limestone with Zechstein fossils may be seen in the country 

 to the W. of the Ufa and Orenburg post road, but is most fossili- 

 ferous in the Grebeni peaks near Orenburg. It forms two anticlinal s 

 near Jemangoolova, and is seen all through this part of the countiy 

 to pass under the upper copper-bearing sandstones. The superior 

 contact rock is generally a light-coloured or yellow sandstone. In 

 the Kargalinsk district the limestone has a persistent character, and 

 gives place definitively to the cupriferous sands. 



The mines are small, but very numerous, and the few fossils found 

 in this upper series are derived from the ore beds. It is to be 

 regretted that many specimens are scattered all over the world, and 

 are lost to science. I know an instance of a perfect reptilian jaw 

 (I suspect of the rare genus Bhopalodon) having found its way to 

 England in the possession of an agent at these mines, and on 

 making inquiries I learn that it has been presented to a relative in 

 Australia. These rocks consist of alternating sandstones and marls, 

 with much irregular bedding, and are characterized by great want 

 of constancy even in limited areas. This may be exemplified by the 

 following sections of four mines in this field in descending order.^ 



Ordinslcy Mine. — 1. A few inches of black earth. 2. Eighteen 

 feet of red clay. 3. Twenty feet of red sandstone and clay. 

 1 The sections were taken by a resident agent. Count dal Verme. 



