SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS OBSERVATIONS, 21 



and trapdykes occurring in the granitic rocks, or as they are now classi- 

 fied, the gneissic or metamorphic rocks, had also attracted his atten- 

 tion. 



In his grouping the rocks of the South Mahratta Country he was 

 not very happy, for he associated in one group various members of the 

 gneissic series, such as the chlorite, haematite, and talc schists, together 

 with the uncomformably overlying quartzites in part, limestones and 

 argillaceous beds of the Kaladgi series, and classed it with the transi- 

 tion rocks of European geologists. 



The quartzites and their associates he classed as old red sandstone, 

 remarking that " some geologists might be disposed to arrange this 

 sandstone with the old red sandstone of English geologists (transition 

 red sandstone of the Germans) ; but I am inclined to consider it 

 identical with the old or new red sandstones of the Weruerian Geognosy; 

 and, therefore, as very generally disposed in an unconformable position 

 in regard to the transition rocks. 



From insufficient examination of the countrv, he had not recognized 

 the fact that the Kaladgi limestones overlie the great sandstone (quart- 

 zite) series. 



His description of the Badami hills is good. 



He failed to distinguish the old, highly crystalline trapdykes occur- 

 ring in the gneissic area from the far more recent and much less crys- 

 talline Deccan trap. 



He described the "iron-clays" or " laterite''-' of Buchanan resting 

 on both gneiss and the Deccan trap, but offered no opinion as to its 

 origin. 



The black cotton soil, or regur, he held to be an alluvial clay, 

 derived from the decomposition of the Deccan and other trap rocks, and 

 that were it " again consolidated, it would form an immense overlying 

 formation of a substance resembling basalt or wacke." 



{ 21 ) 



