of Salem and Barramahal. 1 65 



clear glassy frit : probably arising from the fusion of the 

 felspar. 



That variety of granite before alluded to, which forms 

 the Pallicondah hill, is a felspathic kind, which contains 

 both hornblende and mica in small quantity. The felspar 

 has a dull earthy appearance, while that of the common 

 granite of the Barramahal is always resplendent and vi- 

 treous, and never in the least earthy in any part of the 

 fracture. Dr. M'Clelland* seems to describe a granite in 

 Kemaon similar to that of Pallicondah, though his speci- 

 mens seem to have been imperfect. 



The Pallicondah variety of granite is correctly described 

 by Dr. Benza as being associated with trap veins and dykes, 

 which are much more common in its vicinity than near any 

 other kind. As eurite, according to Dr. Boase's definition, 

 (Primary Geology, page 17,) is a felspar " fine, granular, and 

 rather soft," that is, earthy in fracture, it will exactly apply 

 to the composition of this granite, and it may be therefore 

 distinguished as " euritic granite," a term which had been 

 used by Dr. Benza himself as applied to it, though the eurite 

 to which he perhaps alludes, would seem not to be that 

 mineral, but a hard and compact silicious variety, with a 

 fracture so finely granular, as to be almost smooth. 



On the north side of the Tallymally, north of Trichino- 

 poly, occurs a low ridge about 100 feet high, and 200 in 

 breadth, formed of cubic blocks of what may be called 

 " ferruginous granite." It is composed of quartz, felspar, and 

 magnetic iron ore in crystalline aggregation, with a veined 

 structure; the iron ore being distributed in veins, and is 

 very firm and tough. It presents an inclination to cleave 

 into cubes, and parallelopipedons, and is therefore com- 

 monly used as a building material. The length of the ridge 

 where this rock occurs I cannot state; but I have seen it 

 running in a direction nearly east and west for eight miles. 



* Geology of Kemaon, p. 44. 



