BHATTANI HILLS. 95 



The lignite of Kalabagh and Kotli is referred to by Dr. Oldham in 

 his report to Government on the mineral resources of the Salt Range, &c. 

 {ante page 4), from which extracts are given in the Salt Range Memoir 

 (Mem. Geol. Surv., Vol. XIV, pages 293, 296) ; and several analyses 

 of the lignite of this district are appended to a paper by Dr. Verchere 

 in the Journal of the Asiatic Society, Bengal, Vol. XXXI V, pages 44, &c. 



All these lignites occur either in the variegated group of the Jurassic 

 rocks or in the alum shale portion of the eocene rocks. They occur at 

 intervals from Kalabagh round the curve of the mountains to Mitha, 

 but the layers themselves are of little value as sources of fuel ; in most 

 cases at least, the largest quantity of the mineral is obtaine'd by picking 

 and turning over the disintegrating alum shales of the mountain, some 

 distance north of Kalabagh, at the head of the Pakli ravine. 



Stream gold is washed in the Indus, and platinum has been stated to 

 occur with it {see Salt Range Memoir, page 27), but this has not been 

 supported by any recent observations. Gold is also said to be washed 

 for in the Kuram river. 



The building stones of the country occur in considerable variety. 

 Even rock-salt is used for the purpose at Kalabagh, and the various lime- 

 stones of the carboniferous, Jurassic, and nummulitic formations would 

 each furnish good building materials, but the sandstones of the Jurassic 

 and Siwalik beds are mostly soft and very perishable. 



In concluding these observations I have to express acknowledgments 

 for assistance received from the District Officers, Major Macaulay of Dera 

 Ismail Khan and Mr. Udny of Bannu, as well as to the Reverend Mr. 

 Meyer, for considerable additions to the fossil collection from Shekh 

 Budin. 



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