PART 3.] 
Oldham: Geology of the Central Provinces. 
77 
which it was associated, inasmuch as, following the trappean boundary to the south-eastwards, 
the Lameti'i group was found to accompany the trap-rock steadily and to rest indiscriminately 
upon all rocks, from the gneiss up. It was therefore clear chat it must be viewed as entirely 
separate from the great Maltadeo series, and as intimately connected with the overlying 
trappean rocks. As noticed above, these lametd beds consist chiefly of cherty and gritty 
limestones, with subordinate beds of a nodular limestone, loose greenish sandstone, and 
purplish or greenish argillaceous beds either sandy or marly. They have been traced 
considerably south of Nagpur, and thence at intervals l’ound by the trappean boundary to 
Jabalpur, and down the Narbada valley to near Hoshau gab ad. If Mr. Blanford’s 
views be supported by further examination, the limit must he carried very considerably 
to the west to the Punas ft and tlie Dhar forest. In all oases, too, the trap-rocks, where any 
section is seen, appear to rest quite conformably or continuously on these Lametd beds, 
and beds which cannot be distinguished from them mineralogically are frequently met with 
interstratified with the traps (as near Nagpur and between Nagpur and Jabalpur). 
Intortrappean series. 
These remarkable sedimentary beds intercalated with the traps of the Deccan and Malwa 
areas have received much attention. They con¬ 
stitute the Intertrappean series of 1 Galop, and aro 
interesting from their fossil contents, as well as their mineral character and peculiar stra- 
tigraphical position. It would be out of place hero to enter into any discussion of the 
various explanations which have been given of these. It must suffice to say that both 
in their lithological character [calcareous muds]; in their distribution [local and irregular 
lenticular masses, not extending laterally to any great distance]; in the fossils contained 
[fresh-water and lacustrine shells, fragments of plants, &c.], and in their occurrence in¬ 
variably between the successive flows of trappean rock, the upper surface in all cases being 
the only one really indurated or altered by the contact of the igneous, heated mass, they 
indubitably point to their origin in the small and irregular deposits in lakes or pools of 
varying size, tranquilly thrown down during the intervals of the successive flows of the 
lava, which now forms the great covering of this immense volcanic region. And I believe 
that the true explanation of the Lametd beds of which I have just been speaking, is that 
they were deposited in a similar way in more widely-extended lacustrine areas, previously 
to the commencement of the great outbreaks of lava. It need not detain us here to in¬ 
dicate the apparently long interval of time which elapsed during the outflowing of theso 
successive lava streams, nor to point out how entirely different in age the intertrappean 
beds of the upper part of the series (Bombay, &c.,) may bo from those which accompany 
the lower and older flows. None of these very much newer beds occur within the limits 
of the Central Provinces. 
The geological epoch of these intertrappean beds seems to bo tolerably well established 
as belonging to the tEocene period of European geologists; it being just possible, that the 
lower beds of the lametd group may represent a part of the upper cretaceous time. The 
evidence against this supposition of Mr. W, Blanford seems, however, decidedly stronger 
than that in its favour. 
The wondrous features of the great trappean country of the Deccan which extend over 
so large a portion of the surface of the Central Pro- 
Deccan trap features. . , , , 
vmccs, have been well described by many observers. 
The immense area covered continuously by these volcanic rocks; the enormous accumula¬ 
tion of horizontal, or nearly horizontal, layers of basaltic rocks; the distinct separation into 
beds, or stratification; the peculiar physical features,—massive flat-topped bills with sharp 
precipitous scarps ; the abundance of beautiful zeolites and other minerals, and the occur¬ 
rence of those curious intercalated beds, containing fresh-water fossils, which I have just 
