1841.] Capt. Huttons Geological Report. 213 



merits that carbonate of lime might readily be fused when exposed to 

 heat, if it were at the same time under a pressure not greater than Dr. Hut- 

 ton's theory required, or about *a mile and a half of sea."* 



Now it is easily perceptible, that the result of these experiments is in 

 exact accordance with the effects which the theory here proposed would 

 give rise to. 



We have supposed that the present solid strata were once soft and 

 aqueous deposits beneath a vast depth of waters ; we thus perceive a beau- 

 tiful and conclusive illustration of Dr. Hutton's theory in the fact, that 

 when the heat generated by the pressure and condensation from below 

 acted on the superior calcareous stratum at 4, that very stratum was 

 then actually subject to the pressure of the superincumbent waters at A 

 C E H, which by preventing the escape of the carbonic acid gas, and causing 

 it to act as a flux upon the quicklime, converted the stratum, as Dr. Hutton 

 had suggested, into the compact state which it now exhibits. 



As theoretic speculations, however just, and however much in accordance 

 with the phenomena observable, they may prove to be, may nevertheless 

 be deemed misplaced in a paper of this kind, I shall leave the subject for 

 a more fitting occasion, and now pass on to a consideration of the remain- 

 ing facts exhibited in the strata of the Spiti valley. 



From Kewrick to the village of Leedung, the strata may be said to be 

 of the same descriptions, namely, talcose schist, quartz rock, greywacke slates, 

 clay slates, sandstone shales and trap, all except the last alternating fre- 

 quently with each other. 



A precise description of each rock belongs rather to the department of 

 the mineralogists than to that of the geologists, and I therefore content 

 myself with pointing out the series rather than individual species, in order 

 that I may hasten on to the theory which the appearances presented 



Passing therefore from Larree via Pokh to the fort of Dunkur, we find 

 the strata to consist of the same alternations of rocks as those already 

 mentioned ; but at this latter spot the appearances denote a struggle for the 

 direction of the dip, which merits some attention. The range of hills run- 

 ning along the right bank of the Spiti opposite to Dunkur have a N. W. 

 by W., and S. E. and by E. direction, and at four miles below the fort the 

 strata dip uniformly to the S. W. From that point, however, or near the 

 village of Maness, it would seem that an upheavement had taken place 

 through or along the centre of the range, causing the superior strata to 

 assume a pent or roof-like appearance, throwing them on one side with 



* Journal of Science, p. 4. 



