74 BLANPORD : GEOLOGY OP WESTE11N SLND. 



PART II. 

 DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS. 



CHAPTER IV.— THE KHIRTHAR RANGE FROM THE NORTHERN EXTREMITY 

 OF SIND TO THE NARI NAI. 



There are several reasons for commencing the description of the 

 Importance of sections geology of Sind with the Khirthar range. The 

 in Klnrthar range. sections exposed in that range are superb, and afford 



by far the best epitome of tertiary geology hitherto observed in India. All 

 the rocks from the Khirthar or eocene group upwards are well developed, 

 and the different groups are much better distinguished from each other 

 than they are in Lower Sind. For the complete study of the series 

 exposed west of the Indus, however, two sections should be examined — 

 that in the Khirthar range for the Khirthar and overlying groups, 

 and that in the Laki range for the beds below the Khirthar or num- 

 mulitic limestone. 



The highest range of the Khirthar consists throughout of a great 

 Main range and minor ridge of nummulitic limestone, anticlinal in 

 nd s es - places, but elsewhere forming only the eastern 



portion of an anticlinal roll, the axis of which lies west of the British 

 frontier. This main ridge is continuous throughout, except where cut 

 through by the Gaj river. The lower ranges, consisting chiefly of 

 newer tertiary beds to the eastward of the main ridge, are irregular, 

 and are formed by minor rolls oB the strata, or by the harder beds ; 

 there is, however, throughout a considerable portion of the range, a 

 ridge formed of the uppermost Manchhar conglomerate, along the edge 

 of the Indus alluvium. 



The description of the Khirthar range commences at the northern end 

 Commences at north- °^ ^ ne eastern ridge, near the small town of Kitchi, 



em end of eastern ridge. ^ nQrth q£ ^ British Frontier> At DharyarO, 



due west of 'Larkana, the main range is divided into two of about equal 



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