48 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XV. 



Paper on " The Rocks and Minerals of Ceylon," he exhibited 

 specimens of dolomite with pyrites and other crystals, and 

 dolomite, large, yellow, free crystals obtained from the 

 Kurunegala District.* 



Magnesian limestone is to be met with in abundance, 

 chiefly at Hunugalkadulla (so called after the occurrence of 

 this rock, which is known to the natives as Hunugal, or lime- 

 stone, in such profusion at this village) and Wellowa in the 

 Kurunegala District, and is worked for economical purposes. 



The following analyses by Cochran show the composition 

 of the purer forms of crystalline limestone and magnesian 

 limestone or dolomite : — 



Composition. 



Calcium carbonate 

 Magnesian carbonate 

 Carbonate of iron 

 Phosphate of lime 

 Alkalies 



Organic matter and moisture ... 

 Silica 



Oxide of iron and alumina 

 Alkalies and traces of phos- 

 phoric acid... 

 Insoluble silicious matter 

 Moisture 



per cent, per cent 



Crystalline 

 Limestone. 



93-79 

 2-51 

 •68 

 •15 

 20 

 •47 

 2-20 



100-00 



97-00 

 1-77 



•23 



1-00 



per centjper cent 



100-00 



Dolomite. 



50-16 

 26-00 



366 



•18 



19-88 

 •12 



100-00 



74-52 

 19-33 



•35 



•20 

 5-35 

 •25 



109-00 



Recent formations are confined to the sea coast which 

 forms the western boundary of the Province. These forma- 

 tions owe their origin mainly to the deposits which the 

 currents make as they come laden with alluvial matter 

 collected along the Coromandel Coast, while in addition to 

 this, as has already been pointed out, the land has been 

 slowly rising from the sea, and terraces abounding in marine 

 shells imbedded in agglutinated sand occur in situations far 



* Journal, C.B.R.A.S., 1880, p. 43. 



