144 KRAFFT: EXOTIC BLOCKS OF MALLA JOHAR. 



doubt the most interesting of all the blocks are those of lower 

 liassic age. Five belonging to this horizon were observed, of which two 

 (i6and 17) have yielded a considerable number of lower liassic ammo- 

 nites. These are situated about i\ mile west-north-west of the Kiogarh- 

 Chirchun pass and the other three, poorer in fossils, 4, 6, 7, lie near 

 Malla Kiogarh E. G. The rock is a very earthy, brick red, rather 

 thin-bedded, nodular limestone, with a few thick grey layers. This 

 type of block is the most characteristic of all, and when once closely 

 observed can be recognized from afar by its characteristic tint. 



The fauna, containing as it does several species of Arietites, is of 

 an unmistakable lower liassic type. The commonest genus of the 

 fauna, is Phylloceras. 



This is the first record of lias fossils being found in India. 



It is of particular interest that the facies is the Alpine one. My 

 specimens are in preservation identical with the lias of Adneth near 

 Salzburg (Austria). 



8. Spiti shales (?) ~\ 



V Balchdhura heights. 1 



9. Gieumal sandstone (?) J 



The Balchdhura heights are made up of masses of unfossiliferous 

 shales and sandstones. The sandstones are lithologically indistinguish- 

 able from the Gieumal sandstone, and the shales associated with them 

 are black alum shales. I believe that these masses represent Gieumal 

 sandstone and Spiti shales ; as fucoids are wanting in the sandstones, 

 we have no reason to correlate them with the upper flysch sandstones 

 (4^). There only remains the Gieumal sandstone with which to com- 

 pare them. Accordingly we may consider the shales to be Spiti shales, 

 viz., the uppermost division, which in the normal sections alternates 

 with the Gieumal sandstone. 



Sandstone blocks, all apparently Gieumal sandstone, are common 

 throughout the exotic masses, but nowhere do they dominate so much 

 as in the Balchdhura heights. 



1 PI. 1 and section 1 on pi. 12. 



( 18 ) 



