I’AUT 1.] L^dekJcGr : Geology of Laddie and Neighbonring Llslricls. 55 
valence of whitish dolomites and dolomitic limestones, often locally alternat¬ 
ing with poikilitic shales and slates, the relative doveloj^ment of which varies 
considerably in difEorent districts. The Zoji-La slates ‘ still remain a puzzle 
to me, as I cannot correlate them with any of the Ladak rocks, though I still 
think those nearest the Trias arc newer than it, from the evidence of the Panj- 
tami section. Some of the metamorphic rocks in the centre of the ellipse must, 
however, I think, ho older, though it is extremely puzzling to imagine how they 
are related to the other rocks, and the country is so rugged and difficult of 
access that it will he very hard to come to any precise conclusion. 
In most parts of Zanskar, Ladak, and Tilol the rocks above the Carboniferous 
form one continuous geological series, characterised by the great prevalence of 
dolomites and limestones; except towards Spiti, fossils arc very rare, and the 
whole naturally presents a combined Trias-Jura, as in America. Had no fossils 
been found in any of these strata, and wore geological nomenclature to have 
originated in tliis district, the whole rock-series would be classed as one great 
system. 
The great geological unity in many districts of the whole series, from the 
Cai’boniferous to the Jura, is a point on which I desire to lay great stress, as indi¬ 
cating the different results arrived at by purely stratigraphical, on the one hand 
and purely palaeontological geology, on the other. 
The Carboniferous rocks vary considerably in mineralogical composition : in 
many parts of the valley of Kashmir they consist of pure blue limestones, full 
of characteristic fossils; while in other districts of Kashmir and elsowhoro, they 
consist mainly of alternations of shales, slates, and limestones, very frequently 
containing crinoids and carbonaceous matter, and at other times quite unfos- 
siliferous. 
From the occurrence of the Carboniferous and Triassio series generally in 
synclinal ellipses, with their longer axes coincident with the normal strike of 
the Himalayan rocks, together with the generally uniform mineralogical cha¬ 
racter of the Ti’ias, I think it almost certain that those rocks once extended con¬ 
tinuously over the whole aroa.^ It may bo that from the varying composition 
of the Carboniferous scries these rocks were deposited in a shallower sea than 
those of the Trias. 
From the occurrence of no rocks newer than the Cretaceous, and from the 
vast amount of denudation wffiich must have taken place to remove the Jura and 
Trias from such large areas, I am greatly inclined to believe that, with the excep¬ 
tion of the Indus valley and a band along the outer hills, this area has been 
land continuously since the Cretaceous epoch. 
During the past season I have for the first time had an opportunity of seeing 
the Krol limestone, and desire to add a few words to my previous conclusions 
regarding it. It will be remembei'ed that I have described a band of limestone 
and other rocks running along the outer foot of the Pir Panjal range® under 
* Roc. Geol. Snrv. India, Vol. XII, p. 17. 
^ I desire to retract an opinion previously expressed (Rec. Gcol. Surv. India, Vol. XI, p. 18) that 
the Carbonirerons rocks were doiiosiled in separate basins. 
“ Rec. Geol. Surv. India, Ihl. IX, p, ICO. 
