MEMOIRS 



OF 



THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 



Geological Notes on Mesopotamia with special 

 reference to occurrences of petroleum. by 

 E. H. Pascoe, M.A. (Cantab.), D.Sc. (Lond.), F.G.S., 

 Director, Geological Survey of India. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the cold season of 1918-19, I was deputed to make a 

 T geological reconnaissance of Mesopotamia. 



This resolved itself into a survey of as many 

 of the important oil indications as it was possible to include in a 

 five months' tour. The itinerary selected embraced a march from 

 Rail-head — at that time situated near Tikrit — up the right bank of 

 the Tigris as far as Mosul, across the river to Nineveh and thence via 

 Quwair, Altun Kupri, Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmatu and Kifri to Table 

 Mountain, offsets being made at various points on the way (see Key 

 map, frontispiece). Reports on the individual areas were written en 

 route in camp and submitted by despaich-rider, and these reports it is 

 now proposed to publish. As the survey proceeded, a scheme 

 of classification of the rocks was gradually evolved and slight 

 modification of premature views was found necessary, but, beyond 

 the additions and alterations these two results necessitate, I 

 have thought it best to make as few changes as possible, so that 

 the reports may not appear to be anything more than they are, 

 viz., a series of field-notes. I need not enlarge on the difficulties 

 and discomforts of the tour, the incessant violent storms, the 

 unspeakably bad roads, the entire lack of local supplies including 

 fuel, and the unsettled state of the country, except to state 

 that these and the succumbing thereto of two of my camels 



