1052 Remarks on the Geology, §c. [Dec. 



meet with a series of alternations of grey wacke, grey wacke slate, and 

 clay slate, having the same dip and direction as the slates just 

 mentioned, proving that they must be of the same age, and that 

 they were up-raised contemporaneously. How far this series extends 

 towards the north we have not as yet ascertained ; as far as we 

 have gone, viz. upwards of four miles beyond Simla, we have still 

 found it.* Four miles to the south of Simla we have already no- 

 ticed a similar series of alternations. In its characters, the grey 

 wacke is characteristic, consisting of a basis of clay slate, with 

 imbedded fragments of clay slate, quartz rock, flints, &c. The size 

 of the embedded fragment varies from upwards of six inches, to so 

 small as to be almost imperceptible to the naked eye, and forming 

 gradually a transition from the grey wacke to the grey wacke slate, 

 and from it into clay slate, in which no fragments exist. In No. V. we 

 have given a section exhibiting the different alternations from the most 

 northern point to which we have as yet gone to Simla. It is rather 

 remarkable, that here, where we find the grey wacke unaltered, quartz 

 rock occurs in but small quantity. The clay slate which alter- 

 nates with the two rocks mentioned, is identical in its mineralogical 

 characters with the clay slate of Simla, when not in junction with 

 quartz rock. 



Quartz rocks occur in three different forms ; as imbedded masses in 

 the slate, as dykes or veins, and in masses exhibiting the regular 

 stratified form ; the seams of stratification being as well marked as 

 either those of clay slate, or grey wacke slate. In structure it is 

 compact or granular, much more frequently the former. The colour is 

 generally greyish white ; sometimes, owing to the presence of iron, it is 

 reddish brown, blood or brick red ; in a few instances we have observed 

 it of a rose red colour, void, however, of the fine translucency observed 



* Since the above was written we have in company with Dr. Macleod examined the 

 country as far as Tagoo ; the predominant rock is still the clay slate ; near to Mabassoo 

 we meet with two alternations of quartz rocks. In this route the clay slate is fre- 

 quently formed contorted in a most extraordinary manner. The dip is generally 

 north and west, the angle varying, in some places it was about 70^. The magni- 

 ficence and grandeur of the view of the snowy range from Mabassoo can be better 

 imagined than described, and the optical delusion is so great, as to make it appear 

 not more than six or seven miles distant. In the foreground you have here and there 

 thick wooded districts, whose dark shade contrasts beautifully with the bleak white, but 

 majestic peaks, whose snow-clad summits tower into the heavens, and defy all human 

 exertion to surmount. Here also you see well what we have already stated, though 

 with some doubt, viz. the parallelism of the subordinate mountain ranges and 

 valleys. 



