ECONOMIC ASPECT OP SALT REGION. 215 



great vertical openings, showing an apparent thickness of 80 to 100 feet 

 of salt under a 50 to 70-foot heading of shale or clay debris, with angular 

 blocks of the local rocks j the salt is of a dark gray color, seems of good 

 quality, and its stratification may undulate ; some high dips to west and 

 north-west were so indistinct that they could hardly be relied on. The 

 gypsum, thougn seen near the place, does not now rest on the salt, and it 

 is very possible that some of the gypseous clay called c sheenJcoura ' may 

 have been the succeeding rock. 



11. Mir audi road. — In a ravine where this pathway is about to 

 leave the hills north of Totukki, amidst some gypseous and clay debris, 

 there is a little salt, purposely concealed; it has a whitish -gray colour, and 

 seems of good quality. 



12. Burhurra, Serappah-drung. — A deep khud here traverses much 

 gypseous debris and red clay. In the main ravine and side nullahs huge 

 masses of rock-salt are seen cropping from the banks for fully half a 

 mile with an apparent horizontal arrangement and a thickness of per- 

 haps over 200 feet. At one place there is an appearance as if a 50-foot 

 band of the salt overlaid black gypsum ; but as the latter might have 

 slipped down, no weight could be attached to the observation ; the salt is 

 of good quality and of the usual gray colour. The whole place presents 

 a most disturbed and shifted appearance, but as either a mining or quar- 

 rying locality, it can hardly be surpassed in this part of the district ; it is 

 also near the high road from Kohat to Bannu. 



13. Bdndd Surddg. — In some of the small ravines about a mile east 

 of Banda serai and rest-house on the road just mentioned, small masses 

 of salt are seen in contact with purple gray clay, greenish and red clay, 

 and lumpy masses of black impure gypsum, all jumbled together and 

 affording no instructive section. 



14. Brungi Bdndd. — Eastward of the latter locality, and north of 

 this bdndd or village, are some reputed old salt mines in dark coloured 

 (upper) salt which show in about 10 to 15 feet outcrops close to a 



( 319 ) 



