MIDNAPORE, ORISSA, &C. 259 



About eight miles west of this, a low ridge of ground rises rather 



suddenly from the lateritic plain, of which it here forms the boundary, 



^ , . ^ „ „., This ridge is formed of grey and blueish arey 



Schists &c., near Sil- ° ° *' ° •' 



'^^^' micaceous schists with bands of a more gneissose 



character, some of the beds being very similar to those seen in the stream 

 near Sildah. The general direction of this ridge is about 30° to north 

 of east, agreeing with the strike of the rocks, which are at a high angle 

 (75°). To the west of this ridge, there is a group of hills, of irregular 

 shape with no general bearing, but occurring rather in isolated masses 

 separated by valleys. These are principally composed of hard grey and 

 greyish white gritty quartzites and large lenticular shaped masses or 

 irregular veins of vein-quartz associated. These rocks form a portion of 

 a series of beds which extend from the commencement of the ridge just 



noticed for several miles to the west and north. 

 General section. 



The general section (ascending) is as follows : com- 

 mencing from the rocks of this most easterly ridge, which are the 

 lowest. First, fine grey and blueish grey micaceous schist (with anda- 

 lusite) and more gneissose bands; then, dull leaden grey slates more 

 earthy and less altered, with hard grey, and greyish white quartzose 

 grits (quartzite in parts); next dark blue schist with bands of horn- 

 blendic rocks, of some thickness, sometimes occurring as lumpy masses, 

 and crystalline like greenstone, but more frequently flaky and of an 

 ashy character: then again, deep blue shining. and silty slates, with sur- 

 faces much wrinkled, and much cleaved, the cleavage planes being 

 at right angles to the bedding ; and finally, the uppermost beds here 

 seen, are dull yellowish brown ■ and purple clayey schist, also cleaved 

 similarly to those just mentioned below them. 



As a whole these rocks are much twisted and contorted. The bands 



of quartzose grits generally form the high peaky ^ 

 Eocks contorted. 



and precipitous hills which are dotted over this 



area ; the blue slates, and traps, occurring in the lower grounds and 



