1854.] LOFTUS — TURKO-PERSIAN FRONTIER. 469 



At other places tae limestones were found to contain — 



Kilgird Range. Dehbid ? Imam Meer Achmet. 



Ammonites. Rhynchonella. Ammonites. 



Small plicate Ostrea. Exogyra. Voluta. 



Venus. Corals. Tellina. 



Turbinate and turrited Univalves. Gryphaea. 



Serpula. 



2. To the Lower Secondary series Mr. Loftus refers the masses of 

 highly crystalline, fetid, blue limestone, much contorted, which is 

 seen in some of the mountain passes to be overlaid by the cretaceous 

 rocks. 



IV. PalcBozoic. — In the Bakhtiyari Mountains Mr. Loftus found 

 some limestone blocks, not in situ, which contained specimens of 

 Orthis, probably of Devonian or Upper Silurian age, together vrith 

 a small Nucula, and a few other indistinct fossils. 



V. Metamorphic Schists. — Associated with the altered blue lime- 

 stone just mentioned, and in juxtaposition with the igneous rocks 

 along the axis of the Zagros Range, from Senna nearly to Mount 

 Ararat, are metamorphic schists, clay-slates, &c., which, like the 

 altered blue limestone, afford no data as to their exact age. 



VI. Granite. — The central axis of the chain is formed of granite 

 rocks, rising to the height of 13,780 feet at the summit of Kuh 

 Elwend (the ancient Orontes). . 



As to the date of the eruption of the granitic chain, Mr. Loftus 

 observes that there is every reason to regard it as posterior to the 

 formation of the nummulitic and gypsum series, and subsequent to 

 the accumulation of the comparatively modern gravel conglomerate 

 on the western skirts of the whole chain. 



VII. Trap-rocks. — Porphyry, trap-porphyry, and serpentine occur 

 on the skirts of the granitic chain. 



Part II, of the Memoir comprises the notes made by Mr. Loftus 

 during his travels in the northern part of the frontier. Owing to 

 a severe illness in the mountains, and other causes, these notes are 

 not so systematically arranged as those made in the former part of 

 the journey. The rocks met vrith along the northern frontier are 

 similar to those previously described, except that there is a great 

 abundance of the products of recent volcanic outbursts, with much 

 tuff or travertine. Mr. Loftus points out some interesting phse- 

 nomena connected with the deposition of the latter. The volcanic 

 rocks are in force especially at Selmas, Lake Van, Abagha, and 

 Mount Ararat ; and the travertine of Derik, and near Khoiand Lake 

 Van is described in detail. In tliis second part there are full descrip- 

 tions of the Lakes Urumia and Van, which, like many others of 

 the localities referred to, are illustrated by water-colour sketches, 

 taken by Mr. H. A. Churchill, who accompanied the Commission. 



