1840.] 



On the Geology of Cutch. 



321 



ed by a movement which proceeded from below ; the laminated series 

 having yeiided to the upheaving power, and the loose brittle sandstone 

 having broken off abruptly. That this has been the case v/ith the minor 

 ridges, and what I may term the natural walls in the Runn, described in 

 treating upon that district, there can be no doubt, as I have found them 

 at angles, varying from a few degrees above the horizontal position to the 

 vertical, and even turned over beyond that point. 



That these beds have been disturbed and broken through by igneous 

 agents is quite evident from the dykes of basalt, which occasionally in- 

 tersect them, 



5. NuMMULiTic Limestone and Marl, 



Although the imbedded fossils of the Nummulitic group resemble those 

 of some tertiary beds of England and France, still the strata of which it 

 consists, differ so totally in mineralogical character and general appear- 

 ance from any of the other formations in Cutch, that it deserves a se- 

 parate notice. It is bounded partly by the second or sandstone and 

 coal formation, partly by beds which 1 have named tertiary, and 

 partly by the alluvial banks of the eastern branch of the Indus, extending 

 from Luckput to a plain between the villages of Wage-ke-Pudda and 

 Eyeraio, about thirty miles to the southward. It consists of a mass of 

 small Nummulites mixed with Fasciolites ; and some of the river banks 

 present a perpendicular section of solid rock, from 60 to 70 feet in 

 height, entirely composed of these small fossils agglutinated together, 

 and varied only by a species of Orbitolites, frequently bent into a saddle 

 shape. This stone has much the appearance of chalk, and the beds are 

 horizontal, except v^here they have been disturbed. In some parts, how- 

 ever, it is much harder, particularly near the town of Luckput, where it 

 is quarried as a building stone, and is also burnt for lime. The surface- 

 soil is entirely composed of the small fossils lying loose, and generally 

 known by the name of Luckput sixpences. 



The beds of nummulitic limestone on which Luckput stands have been 

 affected in a manner deserving of notice. 



The high ground to the east of the town sends off three parallel ridges 

 to the westward, ranging nearly east and west. On the two northern- 

 most of these ridges, the north and south walls of the fort of Luckput are 

 built ; whilst the southernmost lies at a distance of about 200 yards from 

 the south wall. A kind of valley runs through the town, ending, at its 

 western side, in a swamp, which is crossed by the western wall of the 

 fort. A cut through the northern ridge exposes a very good section of 

 the nummulitic stone, dipping 40° to the north ; whilst, in a similar cut 



