1840.] Geological Formation of tlie^ Himalayan Mountains. 337 



yet remain upon the cliffs above, for some miles farther to the north, 

 where a gradual passage of it may be observed into the talcose gneiss.-— 

 J. A. S., Dee. 1835, p. 692. 



In the upper Section, No. I, after the sandstones of the Nahun and 

 Jytuk ranges, reci marl, with veins of carbonate of lime, is seen in des- 

 cending to the Julal river; and this is succeeded by the limestone and 

 clay-slate series. About Booraree, mica slate, with crystals of horn- 

 blende, is met with, and iron pyrites in the valleys on both sides; mica 

 slate succeeds, occasionally fine textured, and scarcely to be distin- 

 guished from clay-slate r in ascending to Pbagonee, it becomes coarse- 

 grained, and in some places abounds in garnets. Near Phagonee, a 

 large vein of iron is seen, and some coarse-grained crystalline lime- 

 stone ; after which we pass to gneiss, before reaching the projecting 

 masses of granite which form the summit of the Choor Mountain. 

 Above Chowrass, a granite vein, running east and west, is seen cross- 

 ing the mica slate. In descending, on the N. E. gneiss and mica slate, 

 with garnets, are again seen. Near Chepal, iron ore occurs, and the 

 elate becomes talcose in the bed of the rivulet, and a coarse plumbago 

 slate is seen near the Soonth. The same formations are repeated in 

 proceeding towards Changshill and Kedarkanta. In ascending to 

 Bumpta, the slate becomes very quartzose, with layers of mica, occa- 

 sionally assuming a granitic structure. On Urukta, mica slate, with 

 garnets, is found, and often with nodules of quartz. In the descent 

 by Deyra, the slate is met with containing grains of magnetic iron, 

 in sufficient quantity to be profitably worked, and which has been 

 named Hornblende Slate by Mr. De la Beche (Manual, 3d Ed., p. 435) : 

 it is associated with gneiss and mica slate.. 



Gneiss. — The system of slates is succeeded in the section by a more 

 uniform formation of gneiss. The extent of which will vary according 

 to our view of what is gneiss. Capt. Herbert calculated the gneiss 

 to be of great breadth, forming a band of which the lowest point is 

 2,800, and the highest 25,709 feet high, thus including the lofty peaks 

 and the snowy range ; as he says ; " The highest peaks are every- 

 where composed of gneiss, the strata of which may be clearly distin- 

 guished, when bare of snow, through a telescope. Granite has no 

 where been found except in veins, and these veins are generally small, 

 with one exception — Whangtoo on the Sutlej." In this Capt. H. was 

 incorrect, according to the testimony both of Dr. Falconer and of the 

 Bev. Mr. Everest (v. infra). The gneiss is of very various character, 

 as far as colour and grain are concerned, though always very regular. 



