1829.] 
Thoughts on Mineralogical Systems. 
255 
No. 2. Coal. Bituminous ; of a subschistose structure, but fissured in every di- 
rection, so as scarcely to bear handling. — From the ridge above Chera 
Punji, and about two miles north of that place ( ! ) the seam is about 3 
feet wide, and shows itself on the surface among the sandstone rocks of 
which the strata around are composed : altitude 4,600 feet above the 
plains. 
No. 3. A white sandstone, consisting of irregularly shaped grains of quartz, semi- 
transparent, united by a white gritty basis : soft and crumbly. — At Low- 
sung in strata, specimen taken from the crest of the hill, altitude 5,600 
feet. 
No. 4. The same, coarser grained ; may be termed a gritstone. — Apparently the 
same with No. 3, but the locality was different, it was found on the crest 
of the hill imbedded in clay. 
No. 5. The same finer grained with a yellow basis. — At Lowsung, strata under 
No. 3. 
No. 6. The same, the basis more developed, apparently decomposed felspar. The 
grains of quartz, which is glassy, more sparingly interspersed Same 
place, in small blocks on the surface. 
No. 7. Hornblende schist, consists chiefly of hornblende and felspar, though 
there is also some quartz. It might be called horublendic or syenitic 
gneiss. — From Lowsung. The specimen is simply a fragment, of which the 
locality could not be traced for want of time and opportunity, but as it 
appears to contain some metalliferous particles, it may be possibly worth 
while hereafter to search for it. 
No. 8. Fine grey wacke slate. (Talco-argillaceous schist.) — Slate. From the 
valley of the Oominarg between Lyjirmee and Moprem, found on the 
banks of the nulla in lar ge lamellated blocks protruding from the surface. 
No. 9. Fine granular quartz rock, contains schorl. — From Nogandee : in blocks. 
No. 10. Ditto almost compact. — Ditto : in strata. 
No. 11. Syenite : in boulders at Nogandee. 
No. 12. Small grained gneiss. — In loose fragments at Nogandee, estimated alti- 
tude 6000 feet. 
No. 13. Stalagmitic concretions from the cave at Musmai. They are of a spheri- 
cal shape and of two kinds, one with a tolerably even surface, composed 
internally of spherical coats alternating in colour, something like the struc- 
ture of an agate ; the others have a cauliflower-like surface, and are inter- 
nally more irregular and less compact, though the concentric structure be 
still visible. 
No. 14. Pieces of bituminous coal from the bed of the Jadukatta near Laour. 
These specimens resemble the mineral of the true coal formation most 
closely. 
III. — Thoughts on Mineralogical Systems. 
If we define geography to comprise a description of the earth as it is ; it may 
be conveniently divided into two sections. The one may consider the arrangement 
of the surface ; the other the constitution of it. The first is properly called Geogra- 
phy; the 2d, Geology. The latter then, we see, considers the materials of the globe, 
and their arrangement beneath the surface, as it is at present discoverable ; and it 
professes to give a correct description and account of them. To do this, however, it 
must call in the assistance of other sciences. 
On a cursory examination of the surface of the earth, it appears to be of a very 
irregular and heterogeneous composition, nor does it seem easy to reduce the ano- 
malous appearances that present themselves to any thing like system. A more par- 
ticular examination, however, will establish to our satisfaction some points not de- 
void of interest. 
The most indifferent observer can distinguish between those soft masses of 
loose aggregation which form the surface in cultivated districts, and the hard per- 
sistent masses that occasionally are seen to break through the surface, and frequent- 
ly rise into lofty mountains. The former maybe distinguished as debris j the latter, 
it is unnecessary to say, are rocks. 
