25£ WYNNE : GEOLOGY OF THE SALT BA.NGE IN THE PUNJAB. 



band of green conglomerate, likewise formed of crystalline fragments^ 



and above it, here and there, are seen peculiar 

 Carboniferous layers. 



black, powdery, carbonaceous, shaly or coaly 



layers, from a few inches to nearly a foot in thickness. These are 



again overlaid by the lower coarse white sand- 

 General observations, 



stones and red earthy alternations of gi^oup No. 5. 



The carboniferous limestones succeed ; the upper lavender clays of 



the inferior groups are not so strongly represented as to the east^ 



and the overlying limestone is frequently dark and thin-bedded, the 



whole carboniferous group being apparently thinner than previously. 



The triassic beds present their usual character, with perhaps less of the 



greenish marly shales; but the Jurassic formation has increased, its 



strong white sandstones contain quartz pebbles, and its more flaggy 



beds many obscure plant fragments. The lower soft white beds of the 



nummulitic limestones are strongly developed, the whole group is 



much contorted towards Sakesar, and the junction of the nummulitics 



with the overlying sandstones is concealed. 



From the place where the Bazar valley commences to open, onwards 



to where the narrow part of the range is crossed 

 Musakhel. 



by the Bakh ravine between Namal and Musakhel, 



the red salt-marl is but little seen, and the overlying rocks show a 



tendency to form an anticlinal curve, the lower strata on the south-west 



side of the •■ ridge being more or less nearly horizontal, but the dip 



increases as the ridge is ascended, until at the crest (which partly 



coincides with the lower boundary of the nummulitic limestone), the 



whole of the beds dip at 45°, 50°, and 55°, to the north-east. Above the 



left bank of the Bakh ravine, the summit of the ridge is formed by the 



Jurassic beds here containing bands of limestone, in addition to the rocks 



above mentioned. The nummulitic rocks still keep their high angle of 



dip, and the lower parts of the tertiary sandstones run upwards on 



their steep slopes. These two last groups form a deep longitudinal valley 



with almost inaccessible sides, excavated along the strike of the softer 



tertiary beds. The north-east side of this long valley is capped at a 



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