Notes on Geology and Mineralogy of Afghanistan. 581 



the softer strata are worn away, while the sandstone projects 

 and gives the mounds the appearance of a water-washed 

 rock. These strata are sometimes nearly horizontal, but in 

 general they have a considerable inclination, and are con- 

 formable to the fossilliferous limestones of the secondary 

 mountains in the vicinity. In the valley of Shawl, of which 

 Quettah is the capital, the lime used in plastering is pre- 

 pared from fibrous gypsum, which occurs in detached masses 

 in the greyish marls, the fracture exhibiting beautiful long 

 fibres of a satiny lustre ; " the foliated variety occurs in 

 large masses composed of thin laminae," like that found in 

 the tertiary strata of England.* 



These clays and sandstones are spread over the Pisheen 

 valley as far as Shahdezye, but beyond that they are lost 

 beneath the alluvial soils which, as we approach the hills of 

 the Kojeh Amram range, are thickly strewed over with loose 

 water-worn stones. This district is by no means deficient 

 in the useful minerals, producing sulphurets of antimony 

 and copper ; gypsum both foliated and fibrous ; and salt 

 which is manufactured by washing the soil and boiling to 

 evaporation. Sulphate of iron is also produced in large quan- 

 tities from the hills of the Kakur country. From the valley 

 of Pisheen the route to Candahar leads across the Kojeh 

 Amram range, not far from Killa Abdoollah, the fort of an 

 Achukzye chief, by what is now usually known as the 

 Kojuck Pass ; the ascent is steep and somewhat difficult, 

 and the height above 7000 feet above the sea, or 3000 feet 

 above the plain. The rocks here offer nothing of particular 

 interest, being composed of arenaceous and clay slates, 

 apparently belonging to the transition series ; in some parts 

 of the range, however, granites occur, as also a secondary 

 limestone of compact texture, and of a dark colour, thickly 

 studded with the stems of a plant, or perhaps of a zoophyte 



* See Mantel's Geology of the S, E. of England. 



