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Note on the Geological features of Zillak Behar. By Lieut. W. S. 

 Sherwill, B.N. I., Revenue Surveyor. 



The geological features of zillah Behar may be divided into four great 

 divisions, viz. — the granitic, the quartzose, the hornstone, and the sand- 

 stone. Commencing from the eastern boundary of the zillah, where it 

 abuts upon zillah Monghyr, the hills are in general composed of confused 

 masses of fatty quartz abounding with mica, which is generally found 

 adhering to the quartz. In many places fine veins of mica are worked 

 and the produce exported to Patna. The principal mines are to the 

 south of Rujowlee, both in the granite and quartz ranges. The country 

 at the foot of these hills is thickly strewn with minute particles of silvery 

 mica, brought down from the hills by the rains, and entering largely 

 into the composition of the soil : much of it is collected by the natives 

 and used for whitewashing their houses, ornamenting pottery, toys, &c, 

 giving to the articles thus smeared, a lively sparkling appearance and an 

 unctuous feel ; the roads and beds of Nullahs sparkle in every direction 

 from the abundance of this mineral. Immediately on the boundary of 

 zillah Monghyr the granite peak named Kawa Kho rises, from out of 

 the quartz hills, to the height of 1,165 feet; another small patch of gra- 

 nite also appears about five miles to the S.W. from the peak. The quartz 

 hills are covered to their summits with forest trees, brushwood and 

 bamboos, but as they advance to the westward and become granite, 

 they rise into bold and lofty peaks, some upwards of a thousand feet in 

 height. 



After leaving Rujowlee, the granite of these hills is found of every 

 hue and texture that it is possible granite can possess or be composed of. 

 In some places porphyritic granite is found, the individual component 

 parts of which are enormous ; in others eurite, where the individual com- 

 ponent parts are undistinguishable from their minuteness, and in other 

 places syenite is found. Also occasional masses of ponderous black mica 

 are found scattered about in company with large masses of the gassy 

 and fatty quartz so common to granite formations. 



At the spot where the Calcutta Trunk Road crosses these hills, large 

 blocks of gneiss are seen protruding from the fine black soil, and in 

 most of the ravines and deep water-courses the same mineral is found. 

 In the bed of the Mohunneh river, to the west of the Dunghye Ghat, 

 on the old Calcutta Road, and where it issues from the hills, the water 



