1 82 KRAFFT: EXOTIC BLOCKS OF MALLA JOHAR. 



is no longer clearly seen. Indeed it appears somewhat far fetched to 

 say that the few scattered blocks to the south-west of Chirchun No. I 

 form a continuation of the latter. 



The northern continuation of the ridge to which Chirchun No. I 

 belongs was admittedly seen from a distance only. I also saw it from 

 afar (pi. n) ; my impression of the structure of this range differs how- 

 ever widely from that of Diener. At any rate it is not made up of a 

 single, lenticular limestone mass, but represents a hilly country, which 

 from its predominantly dark colour appears to be chiefly igneous. 

 This is studded over, not only on the top of the range but also on its 

 slopes with numerous light coloured limestone blocks. 1 That this 

 range has, as a whole, a slightly semi-circular bend is in my opinion the 

 consequence of erosion, as the same curve is followed by the Chalda 

 river that washes its western slope. 



In view of the foregoing the arrangement of the blocks in rows can 

 hardly be said to be an established fact. The only district where such 

 rows might be suspected from the maps in hand has never even been 

 visited by a geologist, much less closely examined, and what can be 

 seen from a distance tells, in my opinion, more against than in favour 

 of the theory. 



There still remain a few points which I should like to shortly 

 discuss in connection with Diener's description. Of the exotic blocks 

 observed by the expedition of 1892 some rest on Gieumal sandstone, 

 others on Spiti shales and are either connected with igneous rocks 

 or perfectly free from them. I may be allowed to point out how 

 these features might have been brought about. 



In cases where igneous rocks are preserved, we are not absolutely 

 obliged to think of disturbances. Denudation of the country, previous 

 to the terrestrial eruptions, might account for these instances. Such 

 an explanation might, for example, be correct in the case of Peak 

 Chirchun No. 1, which then would represent a patch of lava with a 

 large exotic block involved in it, the whole resting on Spiti shales. 

 The fact that these are much crushed and contorted below the peak 

 1 Indicated on pi. 11 by small crosses. 

 ( 56 ) 



