LOFTUS TURKO-PERSIAN FRONTIER. 291 



Nehavend, to Essad-abad. On the east of the same cham they con- 

 tinue along the skirts of the same range to Hamadan. 



They probably extend to the plains of Senna, from whence they 

 bear in a N.W. direction, by Banna and Ser Desht, to Lahijan, at 

 the southern extremity of the Lake of Uriimia, — and afterwards 

 appear at intervals along the whole extension of the frontier, to 

 within a short distance of Mount Ararat. 



These slates are largely developed in the Pass over Kiih Elwend, 

 between Essad-abad and Hamadan. Upon the south ascent of the 

 range the beds have a general dip to the S.W., at an angle of 50° 

 or 60° ; but on the opposite side they take a contrary direction, and 

 are there seen tilted high up the range, resting against the highly 

 elevated granitic peaks. The slates are traversed by veins of com- 

 pact and granulated quartz, having various tinges of blue and yellow. 

 Some of these veins are of great thickness. 



Between the foot of the Pass and Hamadjin mica-schists occur, 

 in conjunction with the clay-slates, dipping at a high angle, but 

 their position with regard to each other is not apparent. 



The following rocks appear in ascending the ravine from Hamadan 

 to the Rock Sculptures ; the strata dip at an angle of 70° to the N.E. 



1 . Black and crystalline altered limestone. 



2. Yellow quartzose rock ; and 



3. Coloured micaceous schists ; containing garnets. 



No fossils whatever occur in these rocks in any locality where they 

 have been examined ; and consequently, until more detailed sections 

 are discovered, showing their connection with the newer deposits, it 

 would be useless guessing at their place in the geological sequence. 



VI. Plutonic Rocks. 



Granites. — Along the Southern portion of the Frontier no igneous 

 rocks are exposed in its immediate vicinity ; but the central axis of 

 the chain at some distance to the eastward consists of granitic com- 

 pounds, which there appear to the almost entire exclusion of other 

 igneous rocks. 



The first point in the south at which the granite shows itself is, I 

 believe, in the low range called Farajabad, or Khakhwah, between 

 Giilpaigan and Japiilak, in lat. about 32° 15' N. and long, about 

 49° 20' E. From thence it forms the Eastern boundary of the 

 plains of Japiilak, Biinijird, and Nehavend ; gradually rising in 

 elevation, until it attains the height of 13,780 feet above the sea- 

 level, according to the measurement of Col. Rawlinson at the summit 

 of Kiih Elwend (the ancient Orontes). See fig. 1, 7, p. 326. Ex- 

 tending in a N.W. direction, the granitic rocks spread over the 

 country in the neighbourhood of Senna ; but the main chain passes 

 through the centre of the triangle formed by the three large towns 

 of Hamadan, Senna, and Kermanshah. It continues along the 

 Avroman range, and crosses the Frontier between Siileimania and 



X 2 



