Records erf the Geological Survey of India. 
[vOL. XHI, 
2G 
GboLOCIY of LaHaK and neighbouking districts, being fourth notice op geologt 
OF KashmIu and neighbouring territories, ly R. Lydekker, B.A., Geo¬ 
logical Survey of India. 
(With a map). 
INTRODUCTION. 
The portion of the Himalaya geologically examined by myself during the 
past Slimmer comprises the country on and adjoining the main road from 
Kashmir to Leh, a considerable portion of Dras, Zanskiir, and Ladak; the 
regions about the Pangong Lake and Ohang-Chenmo, and a part of Rnpsn and 
Knlii. 
A considerable portion of this area has been already traversed by the late 
Dr. Stoliezka, and the serial position of most of the rock-groups occurring 
therein approximately determined.' Dr. Stoliezka’s survey was, however, mainly 
confined to the high-roads, while my own embraces a large extent of the sur¬ 
rounding country. I am, therefore, able to present a fairly complete general map 
of the greater part of the districts in question, in jilace of the isolated rock- 
groups colored in by Dr. Stoliezka. My own more extended observations have 
also led to certain modifications of the views entertained by Dr. Stoliezka as to 
the relative ages of some of the rocks in these regions, but on the main I agree 
with the conclusions arrived at by our former colleague. I may also add that 
I am indebted to Dr. Stoliezka’s notes for some of the boundaries shown on the 
map. 
In my previous papers on the geology of the Kashmir Himalaya,- I have 
generally treated the subject in the manner of an itinerary; describing the 
different rocks as they occurred on my various routes. This method of treat¬ 
ment, however, would not be suitable to the present area, and I, therefore, pro¬ 
pose to treat of each group of I’ocks by itself. 
In geologically mapping an area which consists in the main of exeeedingly 
lofty mountains and elevated valleys, it is of course impossible from the nature 
of the ground, to be always perfectly accurate in tracing continuously the bound¬ 
aries of the various rock-groups; not unfrequently, therefore, in my map when 
such boundaries are far removed from the roads, they must be considered merely 
as more or loss accurate approximations connecting the fixed points where the 
boundaries cross or approximate to the practicable roads, or accessible regions. 
I shall divide my subject into four main headings, viz. (1), the older 
Palaeozoics of Dras and Ladak, (2), the rocks north of Chang-Chenmo, (3), the 
rocks of the Zanskar and Ladak basin, and (4), the rocks of Lahul and Kulu, 
while in a fifth section I shall make some more general remarks on the relations 
of the rocks of the whole area. 
I once again have to deplore the absence of any trace of fossils in the older 
Palaeozoics of the region surveyed, which absence precludes any minute sub- 
> Mem. Geol. Surv. India, Vol. V, pp. 132, 337. Scieiitiac results of Second Yarkand Mission t 
Geology. 
^ Rec. Geol. Surv. India, Vols. IX, XI, XII. 
