448 
GUBERLINSKI HILLS AND THEIR SOUTHERN EXTENSION. 
Looking from these hills due southwards, across the broad transversal valley, 
in which the river Ural here flows to the west, the geologist accustomed to moun- 
tain outlines, at once recognises, that the very same low conical forms are con- 
tinuous into the distant Kirghis elevations of Katen Edir-tau and Urkatch, which 
ranging southwards to the Mugodjar Hills and Mount Airuk, constitute the true 
mineral axis of the Ural. Again, if the same line be prolonged by hills of similar 
constitution to the south of Mount Airuk, which near the country of the Great 
Bursuk are in like manner flanked by altered rocks, limestones and grits as in the 
Russian Ural, and if this line be further prolonged along the major axis of the Aral 
Sea, we find another ridge of similar character to the north-east of Khivab, which 
thus seems to mark the extension of the enormously long meridian fissure in the 
earth’s surface, of which the Ural is the dominant feature. We have before indi- 
cated that the eastern flanking ridge of the Kara Edir-tau of the steppes of the 
Kirghis, which we agree with Baron Humboldt and Colonel Helmersen in consider- 
ing a prolongation of the Ilmen Hills, bends inwards in its course southwaids, and 
unites with the Mugodjar and Airuk ridge. Judging from their low altitude, pure 
geographers may look upon both the Kara Edir-tau and hills of Guberlmsk as 
mere plateaux, whilst the geologist must view both these elevated lines as em- 
branchments of the same great fissure of eruption which unite in their prolonga- 
tion to the south. 
But without entering further into general considerations, let us now adhere to 
the description of the Guberlinski Hills. 
On their summit, and not far from a guard-house, the undulating cones of green- 
stone are diversified by the occurrence of large masses of pure white magnesite 1 , 
which arranged both in laminated and concretionary forms, is associated with an 
earthy trap rock. In other parts the rocks having a serpentinous aspect, contain 
asbestos, and further on they change their character from greenstones to black 
diallage rocks. In advancing to their western slopes, the Guberlinski Hills become 
more ravined, and offer some wild and barren scenes, from whence the traveller 
looks down into the picturesque valley in which the village of Guberlinski is placed, 
the arid, brown rocks above forming a fine contrast to the grassy slopes beneath. 
The accompanying vignette, taken from the gateway of the post-house in the vil- 
1 Our companion Lieutenant Koksliarof, whose correct eye for mineral distinctions we have often had 
occasion to remark, considered this magnesian substance to be “ Gurhoiian. 
