CHITICHUN CRAG. 7 



it is in normal position, corresponding to Stoliczka's Chikkim lime- 

 stone or not. 



Another limestone crag was discovered in the immediate vicinity 

 of Chitichun encamping ground, in the ravine descending from the 

 Kiogarh Chitichun pass towards the Chitichun river. This mass, as 

 well as a second block of much smaller size situated to the east of the 

 former, is almost entirely imbedded in the Spiti shales, or in the 

 lowest beds of the Gieumal formation, and has only been brought 

 to the surface by the denudation of the surrounding softer materials. 



Neither here nor anywhere in the Chitichun region can a distinct 

 boundary between the Gieumal sandstones and the upper Spiti shales 

 (Lochambel beds) be fixed, as the two formations pass gradually into 

 each other. In the vicinity of Chitichun encamping ground, slabs of 

 a greenish sandstone are frequently met with, overlying the slopes of 

 the dark Spiti shales. It is therefore simply a matter of personal 

 taste, whether these sandstones are considered as belonging to the 

 one or to the other system. 



The next crag is situated near the low pass, west of the peak 

 Chitichun No. I., on the route from the Kiogarh Chaldu pass to 

 Chitichun encamping ground. A few sections of Bryosoa and corals 

 were detected in the limestone, but no attention was paid to these very 

 badly preserved organic traces, as at the time we visited this crag 

 it was assumed to overlie normally the Spiti shales, by which the 

 saddle leading over the range is formed. Close to this saddle a few 

 loose blocks were found containing numerous though badly preserved 

 ammonites of the genera Monophyllites and Xenaspis (?), pointing 

 to a very low Muschelkalk horizon (Dinarian series). 



Chitichun crag. — East of the abovementioned saddle rises the 

 famous crag of Chitichun No. I (17,740 feet), with its rich permo- 

 carboniferous fauna. It is rather difficult to say whether the lime- 

 stone crag actually comes into contact with the Spiti shales or with 

 the intrusive igneous rocks (diabase-porphyrites) and their tufa only, 

 as the two are mixed up together so intimately, that a very detailed 



( 7 ) 



