'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎224] (357/458)

224
NOTES.
The other kunkurs chiefly prevalent on this side of India are mostly spongif oria
in external aspect—those in the beds of our great Deccan rivers, in the assumed
basins of former lakes, often so closely resemble the roots or twigs of trees, or
branches of coral, as to be mistaken for petrifactions—in this case a rootlet of grass
or vegetable fibres, will generally be found forming the nucleus on which the cal
careous matter has been deposited. Captain Campbell speaks of a red arenaceous
loam prevailing in the table-lands of Southern India, which is penetrated by
Kamose kunkur in all directions, both vertically and horizontally, the pieces
being continuous from the surface to the depth of eight or ten feet. A remarkable
formation of this kind is found in a valley ten miles in length, and four in
breadth in Burramahal.* The kunkur which abounds in the cotton soils of Salem
in the same quarter, is sometimes so completely cellular as to resemble a honey*
comb—the quantity is greatest at the bottom of the bed of soil.f The black
cotton soil abounds with the smallest nodules, from the size of a pea to that of a
filbert : in the N. W. Provinces these form in continuous sheets a few feet under
the surface, constituting a serious annoyance to the agriculturist and gardener—
after the ground has been completely cleared of them it yields them as abundantly
as ever in a few years’ time. I have met in with some singular va
rieties of kunkur at Gogo, on the coast of Kattiwar, the result ob.
viously of the deposit of lime in the cracks of the clay, of which a very
beautiful cast is presented. These are procurable from the size of a walnut to that
of the human head—the clay found in them, and adhering to them when found, is
easily washed out of them,—the spongy calcareous mass remaining being almost
pure white# The marvel in this case is how the cracks in the clay should retain
their form while water was penetrating through them. Kunkur is found in almost
all parts of India, with the exception, it is said, of the summits of the Neilglier-
ries: J it is to be met with at altitudes of 4000 feet and seems as plentiful all over
the Punjaub as in any part of Hindoostan. It is not supposed to be met with in
Afghanistan, Persia, Scinde, or any quarter beyond the influence of the periodical
rains. The formation of kunkur was wont to be ascribed to the action of calcareous
spiings now extinct or nearly so, and to this theory for the older varieties of the
rock Captain Newbold seems to the close to have felt disposed to cling: the view
is opposed by Capt. Campbell, Capt. Baird Smith, Capt. Abbott, and others,and
I think with justice. The formation of certain varieties of kunkur is proceeding
daily before our eyes, and it seems to me to be much more reasonable to ascribe the
Whole of the kunkurs—so closely resembling each other in their general charac
teristics, and the most dissimilar varieties merging into each other by such undis-
* Captain Campbell on the formations of the table-lands in Southern India. Calcutta
Journal of Natural History, vol, ii. p. 309.
f Ibid, p. 310 .
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