The Hon. Mr. Strangways on the Geology of Russia. 31 



A deposit of the same kind has been met with at Vixa at a considerable 

 depth, but the specimens I saw there may have belonged to rolled masses. 



A black clay is seen on the left bank of the Oca at Mourom, also beneath 

 the sand; but as it contains no organic remains, it is not yet identified with 

 any other bed. 



It is very common in some parts of the neighbourhood of Moscow, where 

 it also seems to lie under the sand of that country, and may be well examined 

 at Petrovsky and at Kharashova. It there contains pyritical ammonites, black 

 siliceous wood, and belemnites*. Some specimens of it include dentalia, 

 sometimes covered with pyrites, sometimes imbedded in masses of black 

 chert. 



About twenty-four versts west of Moscow, near the village of Tatarki, is 

 quarried a white siliceous sandstone, used at Moscow for foundations, and 

 sent to distant parts of the country for millstones ; but which are inferior to 

 those of Voronesh. The Tatarki stone is often of a pinkish hue, and lies in 

 large slabs with irregularly waved surfaces. 



Central Mining District. 



This tract includes parts of the governments of Nishney Novgorod, Vladi- 

 mir, Tambof, Rezan, Toula, and Calouga; extending from a little above 

 Mourom on the Oca, to near the town of Calouga. It is in general a very poor 

 sandy districtf , and probably belongs to the red-marl formation, although its 

 connexions are not very distinct. Along it are situated several extensive iron 

 works J; for in general the iron is manufactured where the ore is raised. 

 These supply the principal consumption of that metal in the interior of Russia. 

 One of the most considerable is the establishment at Vixa and its dependen- 

 cies, in the forest of Mourom, belonging to Mr. BataskofF. 



as being found near the river Moscva (Russ. Moscva Reca), about a league from Moscow, 



probably at the places hereafter to be noticed, as showing the black clay. 



* Pallas mentions a similar rock, as a probable indication of coal at Cashponr, lying under a 

 hill of white marl like that of Simbirsk and Tagay, but mentions no sand between them. 



t It is nevertheless more fertile than the sand of Petersburg, since, without manure, it lies 

 fallow only every third year, and gives a return of eight for one. When properly treated, it bears 

 tolerable crops, especially of lucerne, a plant which has almost naturalized itself where it has 

 been introduced. Among the surface gravel, are rolled pieces of granite, limestone, and chert. 



J The Crown works of Toula employ exclusively Siberian iron : tliis is the principal manufac. 

 tory of arms in Russia. The manufactory at Calouga formerly attempted the finer kinds of cut- 

 lery, but failed. 



