IX.— Ow the Geology of a Portion of Bundelcund, Boghelcund, and the 

 Districts of Saugor and Jubulpore. 



By captain JAMES FRANKLIN, of the bengal army. 



F.G.S. F.R.S. 



[Read June 20th, 1828.] 



Having had an opportunity of examining the geological features of a por- 

 tion of the provinces of Bundelcund and Boghelcund, and of the districts of 

 Saugor and Jubulpore, I have the honour to submit the result of my observa- 

 tions, together with a map and section, to the Geological Society of London : 

 and I beg more particularly to offer to their attention the limestone formation 

 which is found on the summit of the second range of hills, as it appears to 

 correspond in every particular with the lias of England ; nor am I aware that 

 this formation has heretofore been shown to exist in India. 



The tract which has fallen under my observation, is a portion of the lowest 

 northern steps of the Viridaya mountains. The ranges of hills have separate 

 names, which serve for local distinction ; but, viewed as parts of the general 

 geology of India, they all merge in the common denomination of the great 

 zone which they contribute to form. 



I commenced my route at Mirzapore, a place of considerable traffic on the 

 river Ganges, and ascended the first range of hills at the pass of Tara. The 

 tract between these two places is not very interesting in a geological point of 

 view, being composed of alluvium reposing upon beds of "canker," or inti- 

 mately intermixed therewith ; and, near the hills, it has been found, from the 

 excavation of wells, to rest on sandstone. 



The first range of hills is composed of sandstone, horizontally stratified, 

 and consisting of fine grains of quartz cemented by clay, which is more or 

 less coloured by red oxyd of iron. The sandstone is saliferous, as is evident 

 from the plains below being saturated with salt ; and there are, I understand, 

 salt-works on the banks of the Tonse river. In many parts it has sufficient 

 cohesion for architectural purposes, to which it is applied ; and it is likewise 

 quarried for pavement slabs, hand-millstones, &c. : in every point of view. 



