42 hughes: wardha valley coal- field. 



Ft. In. 

 11. Coal seam— ... ... - 27 O 



(a). Coal ... ... ... 17' 0" 



(b). Black stale ... - 2' 0" 



(c). Coal ... ... ~ 8' OP 



12. Light-colored shale ... ... 



13. Black shale 



14. White sandstone .~ «. ... ... 14 



1 

 1 



Total ... 120 



At the time of the discovery of this coal, the relative claims of the 

 right and left side of the Wardha to a line of railway were being dis- 

 cussed. The importance of having coal as near as possible to the main 

 line of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway was recognised, and Pisgaon 

 beino* as near, or nearly so, as any spot then known to contain coal in 

 the Chanda district, it was determined that a trial shaft should be 

 sunk, and coal raised in sufficient quantity to test it practically. Addi- 

 tional bore-holes were commenced to prove the lie of the seam. No. 2 

 reached 106 1 2" and there got jammed. No. 3 was not proceeded with 

 beyond 152', as the white quartzo.se sandstone in which the chisel stood 

 at that depth was supposed to denote the horizon below the coal. 

 No. 4 struck coal at 98' 6" from the surface, and a shaft was commenced 

 on the site of the bore ; it was stopped, however, by order of Government 

 when only 22 feet had been sunk (March 1871). 



After some months of inaction, orders again arrived to proceed with 

 sinking, but the shaft having fallen in, further 

 borings were made on the right bank of the Pis- 

 gaon nala, and in No. 7 the seam, 21 feet in thickness, was struck at 108 

 feet from the surface (26th October 1871). On the site of this bore- 

 hole a 9-feet shaft was commenced, and sunk to the coal (October 1873). 

 Headings were driven out in the bottom portion of the seam, and suffi- 

 cient coal raised to enable a judgment to be passed respecting its qua- 

 ( 4S ) 



