INTRODUCTORY. 25 



of the section containing ii, are given. The prospects of its being remuner- 

 ative^ if worked, are discussed. Some valuable observations and sugges- 

 tions follow relating to the salt mines and their working system. 

 The Trans-Indus salt mines as well as the petroleum or mineral tar and 

 sulphur of some localities^ are also described. 



Dr. Stoliczka, in his paper upon the geological sections across 



the Himalaya from the Sutlei to the Indus * 

 Dr. Stoliczka, 1865. "^ ' 



makes some reference to the carboniferous fossils of 



the Salt Range, some of the species being found in his " Kuling beds " 

 or carboniferous series of that Himalayan region. He has also an allu- 

 sion to the occurrence of newer secondary rocks in the Punjab which 

 must also refer to the Salt Range. 



In the voluminous paper on the geology of Kashmir, the Western 

 Dr. A. M. Verchere, Himalaya, and the Afghan Mountains,t by Dr. 

 Verchere, are several passages referring to the Salt 

 Range. In sections 89 and 97, the connexions between the range and 

 his theory of the special elevation of the whole region are indicated, and in 

 section 64 the carboniferous limestone is alluded to as well as the formation 

 of the salt marl, and supposed internal changes in it. This marl is re- 

 ferred to the trias or permian age and called " saliferian." The carboni- 

 ferous are said to be succeeded by oolitic rocks. In the succeeding 

 section the nummulitic rocks are described, their associated alum shales 

 being, it is stated, developed only where lignite is situated close to the 

 " saliferian^'' formation, and the opinion is expressed that these shales 

 appear to be patches of lignite metamorphosed. In sections 67 to 75, 

 the sandstone, clay and conglomerates, overlying the nummulitic group, 

 are supposed to be miocene, the upper portion being identical with the 



* Memoirs of the Geological Sui-vey of India, Vol. V, Pt, 1. 



t Kashmir, the Western Himalaya, and the Afghan Mountains, a geological paper by 

 A. M. Verchere, Esq., Beng. Medical Service, with a note on the fossils by M. Edouard de 

 Verneuil, Memb. de I'Acad. Scien., Paris. Jour., As. Soc, Bengal, Vols. XXXV and 

 XXXVI, Pte. 2 and 2, 1866-67, with maps and illustrations. 



B ( 25 ) 



