T. W. B. Hughes— The Coal-fields of India. 33 



■wMcli was commenced by the issue of the Eeport on the Eaniganj 

 field, and systematically continued in those of the Jherria, the Bokaro, 

 and the Eamgarh fields. 



The total area of all the Damuda Coal-basins is about 2000 square 

 miles, estimated as follows : — 



1. Raniganj 1000 square miles. 



2. KaranpiirS, 472 „ 



3. Bokaro 220 



4. Jherri&. 200 square miles. 



5. South Karanpur^ 72 „ 



6. Ramffarh 40 „ 



The size of the Eaniganj field is stated approximately. Its known 

 area is 600 square miles, but there is every reason to suppose that it 

 extends for many miles eastward beyond its furthest known or 

 mapped point in that direction. The areas of the other Coal-basins 

 are accui'ately given, as they differ from the Eaniganj field in having 

 their boundaries definitely terminated by the appearance of the 

 crystalline series, which, in the Damuda valley, forms the floor upon 

 which the Coal-measures and their associated rocks rest. 



Although the Eaniganj field is by far the most important of the 

 Damuda Coal-basins, owing to its superior size compared with the 

 others, and its geographical position as regards Calcutta, the Karan- 

 pura Coal-fields will also be of considerable value as areas of supply 

 to the towns of Hazaribagh, Eanchi, and G-ya ; and for economic 

 purposes in connexion with the Sone irrigation works, which have 

 lately been initiated by the Government of India. 



The area of the Karanpura fields is 544: square miles, and they have 

 been roughly estimated to contain 8835 million tons of available coal. 



Associated with this coal there are valuable deposits of iron-ore, 

 which have within the last few years attracted much attention ; and 

 some preliminary surveys have been commenced with a view to set- 

 ting up ironworks, and connecting them by means of a branch line 

 with the main system of the East Indian Eailway Company. 



The size and importance of the Coal-fields of our great dependency 

 are little known, and it may be of interest and high importance to 

 learn that in extent the coal -area of India stands third in the list 

 of countries, and that in thickness its seams are unsurpassed by any 

 in the world. 



Mr. Hughes' memoir concludes with some important general 

 considerations regarding the physical conditions under which the 

 coal-rocks were deposited, and the organic contents of the period. 

 He argues that the entire series of formations developed in the 

 Damudc4 Valley Coal-fields is of land and freshwater origin, and 

 adduces as proof: evidences of water (current) action resembling 

 those which may be seen in the recent valley deposits of Indian 

 rivers ; and the absence of marine organic remains highly favours 

 the views of Mr. Hughes — this being borne out by the great pre- 

 ponderance of fossil plants over other organic remains in the 

 Damuda and Panchit plant-bearing formations. 



It would appear that the coal-bearing rocks of the Haranpura 

 Coal-fields, and consequently the Coal-flora of this part of India, 

 belong to the Trias, or even later ; and such plants as Gl )i<sopteris, 

 TcBnioioteris, and Priessleria — also occurring in Queenslan I in rocks 



VOL. IX.— NO, xci. 3 



