PAINKANDA SECTIONS. 



125 



The Shanki river cuts in its upper course through the entire thick- 

 ness of the lower (14) and upper (15) rhaetic dolomites and limestones, 

 and the overlying light-coloured lias limestone (16), with its dark fos- 

 siliferous shales. The beds dip under a high angle to the north-east 

 (about 55 ), and near the point where the direct road to Gartok crosses 

 the Shanki river (fig. 18) is overlaid conformably by Spiti shales (17). 

 The hard-grey limestone of the lias is full of fossils, amongst which a 

 smooth Gervillia is most conspicuous, covering hundreds of square 

 yards on the weathered surfaces of the limestone beds. 



About three miles lower down the valley, which becomes more 

 open after its entry into Spiti shales, the beds are rather disturbed 

 and some faulting has taken place. The section from upper rhaetic 

 through the liassic limestones into Spiti shales is repeated. 



Fig. 19. Gorge through upper rhsetics, north of the Niti pass. 



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