110 Scientific Intelligence. 



formation respecting the localities from which supplies of fuel can be 

 drawn, must prove interesting, and not less so the capabilities for the 

 manufacture of iron. Hitherto the iron mines of India — though yield- 

 ing iron in no respect inferior to the famous mines of Dannemora 

 have been scarcely opened, from the deficiency of the means of trans- 

 port ; and the coal-fields, though of great richness and extent, have 

 Iain neglected, principally from the same cause. The coal-fields of 

 India are largely distributed over its surface ; coal has been traced from 

 Burdwan to the westward, across the valley of Palamow, through the 

 district of Sohagpore to Jubulpore, the neighborhood of Sak, and the 

 Towa River, in Nerbudda — four hundred and twenty miles from Burd- 

 wan. In the same parallel of latitude it is found in the province of 

 Cutch, and is extended across the centre of India, to the northeast ex- 

 tremity of Assam, forming a zone, which stretches from 69° to 93° 

 east longitude, and from 20° to 25° north latitude. There are also two 

 situations where coal has been found distinct from this extensive and 

 well-defined belt — Hurdwar and Attock — the first near the source of 

 the Ganges ; the latter, near that of the Indus. The Nerbudda river 

 extends seven hundred miles along the very centre of the above zone; 

 and coal in three situations has already been found on its banks. The 

 Burdwan coal-field is of immense importance ; the collieries at present 

 opened are situated one hundred and forty miles from Calcutta, and 

 the district is traversed by two rivers — the Damooda and the Adjii ; the 

 face of the country is undulating, presenting a difference of level be- 

 tween the heights and valleys of about sixty feet. The surface is com- 

 posed of a yellow clay, supporting a good soil— both slightly calcare- 

 ous ; this clay rests on a grey sandstone, which effervesces with acids, 



seven feet in thickness ; and where exposed to the air, in many places 

 an efflorescence of soda is found upon it. Beneath this rock, an infe- 

 rior coal is found, accompanied by shale, containing impressions of 

 plants, bending over the low hills, and descending deep beneath the 

 valleys ; beneath these, good coals are found : and this portion of the 

 deposit has been traced in a southwest direction eleven or twelve miles, 

 and in a northwest line for seven miles — thus forming a curve. At a 

 depth of about fifty feet, two beds of excellent coal occur— one, eight 

 feet, and the other nine feet in thickness ; below these, thirteen beds of 

 sandstone and shales occur; and the greatest depth reached is eighty- 

 eight feet, where the excavation is terminated by a hard grey sandstone. 

 The whole district abounds in rich and valuable iron ores of various 

 kinds; and it has been proved, by the erection of temporary furnaces 

 at Sheargur, that immense quantities of iron can be made a"t little ex- 

 pense. The avenge of the ores produce fifty per cent, of iron. A 

 prospectus, drawn up in 1828, pointing out the benefits likely to 

 arise from establishing iron-works in India, led to the formation of the 

 Porto Novo Works, near Madras, now in succesful operation ; and, as 

 the subject is one of immense importance to the construction of rail- 

 roads in India, we shall, in a future number, give the substance of a 

 report by Capt. Campbell, which will, doubtless, throw much light on 

 the present position of the coal and iron districts. 



3. On Slaty Cleavage ; by Daniel Sharpe, (Quart. Jour. Geol 

 Soc, No. 9, p. 74.)— Mr. Sharpe commences his very valuable article 



