294 NOTE ON THE LATEEITE OF OPJSSA. 



deiicy of some bodies to accumulate substances of a similar structure 

 around them. 



Plowever formed ihere can be but little doubt that these pisolitic 

 nodules are the source of all or nearly all the iron in laterite, the 

 greater portion of the metal being still contained in them. The re- 

 mainder of the mass is merely sand and clay cemented by iron supplied 

 by the nodules. 



The laterite of Orissa has undoubtedly been subjected to marine 



,, . ^. action, as shewn by the boulders which are found 



Mavine action may •' ^^^^^^ 



also have aided. contained in it around the hills,— once islands,— 



which dot the plains of that country. It is by no means impossible that 

 this marine action has carried further the action of rain in separatino- the 

 lighter sand from the heavy ferruginous particles, and in spreading the 

 latter evenly over the surface of the country. The greater height to 

 which Laterite ascends in the western part of the Province may be due 

 to a greater rise of land in that direction. 



But these ideas are merely put forward as suggestive speculations. 



But nothing certain ^ ^^'^'^^^ ^'^^^ ^^''^J "^^^ ^^'^^"^ partially to explain 

 can be predicated. g^ very remarkable natural phenomenon, but it is 



extremely probable that they are far from containing the complete 

 elucidation of all the facts. I can only trust that more fortunate ob- 

 servers may succeed in thoroughly investigating and explaining not only 

 the Orissan, but also the many other Indian Rocks, which have hitherto 

 been confounded under the name of Laterite. 



Camp near Raneegunge,") 

 1st Februari/, 1859. j 



