HUDLESTON: GEOLOGY OF PALESTINE. 
187 
and constitute indeed, the entire mass of the Palestine hills, of the 
Negeb, or south country, and of the terrible desert of the Tih. They 
are classed together, because of their physical unity, as one great 
calcareo-siliceous formation. Indeed the onl}^ test of difference is 
the presence of true nummulites. Now there can be no doubt that in 
Egypt, large portions of the area coloured blue on the map are 
nummulitic limestones ; and also that a considerable portion of the 
western escarpment of the Tih is nummulitic chalk with flints ; there 
is also a limited area near the head of Wady Akabah. The only 
locaHties known to yield nummulites in Palestine proper are the 
Mountains Ebal and Gerizim, in Samaria ; and Mount Carmel, on the 
coast. There is also a small exposure of nummulitic limestone in 
Phenicia. Beds of Cretaceous age are largely developed in the 
Lebanon. 
With respect to the portion of the map and section described 
as Miocene, there is some doubt. All the evidence goes to show 
that beds usually called " Miocene," were cut through in the southern 
portion of the Suez Canal, but h(3w far these extend is by no means 
clear. Of course no great accuracy is claimed for the map in this 
respect. There is a quantity of flint breccia, the result of the 
breaking up of the Xummulo-cretaceous series, scattered about in 
different parts ; some of which may be of Miocene age. In one 
place, near the Gulf of Suez, this was found to be associated with 
corals of a Miocene type. 
The Deposits of tlie Dead Sea Basin include everything in the 
long fissure from the foot of Ilermou to beyond the roots of Mount 
Hor. M\ we can say of them is that they are post-nummulitic, and 
the same may also be said as regards the Lavas^ which are so abun- 
dant in the north. 
The Coast deposits, marked a, are regarded for the most part as 
Quaternary and Recent ; they are said to contain shell limestones, 
much used for building the cities on the Mediterranean ; the shells 
being all those of recent species. 
Since the Cretaceous limestones are by far the most important 
rocks in the country, they have a section to themselves, No. 5. The 
whole of the rocks below them are detailed under section 4, and 
those above them in section 6. 
