PART 1.] 9 
Sketch of the Geology of the Nobth-West Peovinces, by H. B. Medlicott, m. a., 
E. G. S., Deputy Superintendent, Geological Survey of India. 
The geology of the North-West Provinces is conveniently separable into three divisions, 
corresponding to three distinct geographical regions. Twenty-three of the thirty-five 
revenue-districts are entirely on the Gangetic plains. Three districts on the north—Debra- 
Dun, Garhwal, and Kumaon—belong altogether to the Himalayan region. Out of nine 
districts on the south, seven are in very large proportion covered by the plains-deposits ; 
three only being in whole or in great part within the rock-area of the Peninsula of Hindu¬ 
stan. It is at once apparent that these geographical divisions are also strictly geological ; 
and it may be here stated that no identification has as yet been made out between the 
rocks within these provinces on the north and on the south of the plains. The formations 
of these several regions may be noticed in the following order :— 
I. —The Plains. —Terms applicable to these deposits. Bhangar and Khadar lands. 
Whether the great rivers are raising or lowering their Khadars. Bhabar 
and Tarai land. Age of the Bhangar land. Kalar lands. 
II .—The Himalayan region. —Physical and geological divisions. The Sub-Himalayan 
series: Sabatlru group; Naban group; Sivalik group. The limestone 
and slate series: The Krol, Infra-Krol, Bliui, and Infra-Blini groups. 
The metamorphic series. 
III.— The Peninsular region. — The coal-bearing series: Barakar and Talchir groups. 
The Yindhyan series : its characters : its distribution. The slate series. The 
schist and gneiss series. 
I.—The Plains. 
Terms applicable to these deposits. —The middle region naturally claims first attention 
It is often spoken of as ‘ the alluvial plains of the Ganges, or by such like expressions. In a 
general sense these terms are admissible: there is no doubt that the materials forming the 
plains were contributed by the Ganges and by its tributaries. But in this range of meaning 
the Sivalik deposits might claim to be included ; for it has been shown that their materials, 
too, were conveyed through the existing Himalayan drainage system. On the other hand, by 
confining the word ‘alluvium’ to its strict geological meaning—to ground subject to flooding 
from the very channels that now exist—the alluvial ground of the North-West Provinces 
becomes comparatively small. It is necessary to specify still further to bring out the distinc¬ 
tion to be made in the area under notice: the word * alluvium is scarcely understood unless as 
applied to fine deposits from tranquil inundation ; and it applies to such indiscriminately, 
whereas from the proper geological point of view, tbo distinction to be indicated is what 
ground is undergoing increase from whatever form of deposition, and, on what ground 
abrasion (denudation) is in permanent action; or, in other words, where river.action is for¬ 
mative and where it is destructive. 
Bhangar and Khadar lands. —A large proportion of the plains-area in these pro¬ 
vinces is permanently undergoing denudation. The main rivers run through it in confined 
and fixed valleys, the flood-level of the waters being well below the general level of the 
country. Several considerable streams, as the Ilindan, take their rise within this area; 
and though subject to local overflow, with deposition of alluvium, they must, on the whole, 
carry away annually a large quantity of earth. The fixed valleys of the great rivers are 
of very variable width, generally bounded by steep high banks ; they are called Khadar, the 
adjoining high land being known as Bhangar. The deep, low-water, channel of the river 
oscillates within the Khadar, or river-plain; the whole of this being liable to inundation from 
