

570 Notes on Geology and Mineralogy of Afghanistan, 



dominate, the latter being of various colours, red, grey, 

 greenish and yellowish, alternating frequently with each 

 other. Dark blue limestones also occur, containing fossils 

 such as Echini and some bivalves, one of which has the 

 appearance of an Isocardium ? Near Sir-i-Kujoor the clays 

 increase in thickness, and are interstratified with bituminous 

 shale; but no coal occurs, except at one spot where the 

 strata on the left hand are nearly vertical. There it forms 

 a thin and insignificant seam of about an inch thick, in the 

 centre of a wider seam of bituminous shale, and appears to 

 be very similar, in external characters, to the Anthracite of 

 South Wales. The shale here occurs between two beds of 

 greenish indurated clay, in the crevices of which occur nests 

 of white Asbestus. 



Here, lying in the bed of the Pass, and immediately 

 in the vicinity of the shale, I found a mass of clay ironstone 

 of a yellow ochreous colour, bearing traces of vegetable 

 impressions, and found to contain a great portion of iron. 

 Along with this I also procured a fine large specimen of the 

 brown fibrous carbonate of iron, but owing to the precipi- 

 tous nature of the rocks, and the impossibility of making 

 research without imminent risk of being murdered, I was 

 unable to find either of these minerals in situ.* 



The coal, of which so much has been said by different 

 travellers through this Pass, is in this locality at least ab- 

 solutely worthless from the small quantity in which it oc- 

 curs ; it is not improbable, however, that the seam may 

 strike out in the direction of Sunnee, where the sulphur 

 mine already alluded to is situated, and that it may there 

 be more abundant. Should research be directed in that 

 quarter, and the mineral be discovered there, it might no 

 doubt in such a locality be turned to good account for the 

 supply of the Indus steamers ; and the line of country to 



* I have lately had an opportunity of showing these specimens to a practised 

 German Geologist, Mr. Reckendorf, who agrees with me in the names assigned to 

 them. 





