1845.] Notes on the South Mahratta Country, fyc. 297 



Age of Limestone. Christie has classed with the hypogene schists under 

 transition, the limestones of Kulladghi and Bagulcotta ; but from extensive 

 observation of this rock, here and in other parts of India, I am inclined to 

 think it, with its associated slates and shales, of more recent origin, prin- 

 cipally from its resting on the gneiss, &c. in usually unconformable stra- 

 tification, often dipping but a few degrees over large tracts, and its 

 more intimate association with the sandstone which caps it ; these rocks 

 being usually seen together. The limestone is inclined near Kulladghi 

 at an angle of 25°, but this disturbance is confined to areas of small ex- 

 tent, speedily recovering its usual little inclined position. In some lo- 

 calities, as near Ryelcherro and Juldroogum in the Ceded Districts, it 

 is seen to alternate with the sandstone. Traces of coal have been dis- 

 covered in a limestone in the Hydrabad country, which appears identi- 

 cal with the Kurnool and Kulladghi limestones. 



Sandstone. The sandstone, though sometimes alternating, and 

 often in conformable strata, with the limestone, is on the whole less 

 disturbed, as just observed ; and generally appears in almost horizontal 

 strata, particularly in the hills south of the Malpurba. On the north 

 bank of this river the sandstone beds have suffered more disturbance, 

 and Christie observed them dipping at an angle of 40° to the N. W. 

 at Chick Nurgoond, resting on vertical hypogene schists, (talc slate). 

 In the N. E. portion of the district the sandstone of the Sitadonga 

 hills rests on vertical chlorite and silicious schists, with a dip towards 

 the N. E. varying from 5° to 28°. In the N. W. portion, near 

 Gokauk, the stratification is obscure, the beds appearing as thick and 

 nearly horizontal tabular masses. Where the strata are horizontal, the 

 hills which they compose run in long, low, flat-topped, wall-like ridges 

 terminating like trap elevations rather abruptly, and their sides often 

 presenting mural precipices. These ranges usually run in correspond- 

 ing elevations, averaging about 200 feet from the surface of the plain. 

 The maximum thickness of the deposit perhaps does not exceed 400 

 feet. 



From their being sometimes in unconformable stratification with the 

 limestone, and imbedding fragments of its cherts, it might be infer- 

 red that an interval of plutonic disturbance took place between the 

 periods of their deposition ; though we have not as yet sufficient evi- 

 dence to refer them to two distinct geological epochs. Basanite, 



