VZ ball: geology op the rajmehal hills. 



Dubrajpur coal are given, but there is little of interest or importance 

 in addition to what has been quoted above from the previous reports. 



Prof. Ansted, in a paper on the Coal of India read before the 

 Ansted, Prof., 1846. British Association,* reviews the above reports. 

 In reference to Rajmehal he writes : " There would seem to be a con- 

 " tinuous outcrop of the same kind of rocks from Bindrabun- up the 

 " Adjai river and northwards to Rajmehal/' This opinion, though justi- 

 fied by the information at Prof. Ansted's disposal, has since been ascer- 

 tained to be incorrect ; although rocks of the same formation occur in 

 both areas, the fields are quite disconnected, as a considerable area of 

 metamorphic rocks intervene. 



Further on Prof. Ansted remarks : " At Rajmehal coal is known to 

 " exist, but has not been much worked. The quality of that which has 

 " been obtained does not appear to be good.'" 



In his geological report for season 1848-49, Dr. McClelland, who 



was at that time in charge of the (xeological Sur- 

 Dr. McClelland, 1848-49. „ _ ' ... . 



vey of India, gives an account ot his examination 



of the localities where coal had been found in the southern parts of Raj- 

 mehal hills at Masunia, Dhomaripur, Taldi, Katiciin, and Dubrajpur. 

 His sections show the coal to be of inferior character. 



Dr. MeCelland's conclusions regarding the relative ages of the 

 several formations are quite contrary to those which have been since 

 established. They are, further, not only inconsistent with one another, but 

 are not even supported by the facts urged in their proof. Thus, the coal 

 formation is said to rest " on enormous beds of secondary trap," and 

 is therefore younger than it ; but a few paragraphs further on, in allusion 

 to the fruitless attempts on the part of explorers to discover workable 

 seams, we find the following : " Such is the development of secondary 

 " trap throughout this district, that no hopes can be held out of any use- 

 ful results from such trials." It is not easy to understand how the 



* British Association reports, 1846, p. 63. 

 ( 166 ) 



