74 BALL : GEOLOGY OF THE RAJMEHAL HILLS. 



taken out, as the total quantity has not been considerable. But there is 

 another circumstance which may exercise a very great effect upon the 

 future supply, and that is the manner in which the old workings have 

 been conducted. 



Contractors whose sole object has been to get the coal at the least 



_„ . . . . possible cost with a complete disregard for the 

 Effect of previous mm- A r o 



ing operations. future, have, by their most injudicious system, or 



rather want of system, left a legacy of outcrop excavations, quarries and 

 drifts now filled with water, which will cause trouble and expense to any 

 persons who may hereafter start a more systematic form of mining. 

 There is not a coal seam worthy the name exposed in any part of the 

 area which has not been grubbed at in this destructive fashion. 



. In the first of the accompanying tables the quality of the coal, so 

 far as it has been ascertained, is stated in reference 

 yua ity o coa . ^ each, particular seam. In the second table there 



are a number of analyses which, with two exceptions, shew a percentage 

 of 10 per cent, and upwards of ash. These exceptions should not be 

 included in a general estimate of the value of the coal, as one is certainly 

 from a picked specimen, and the other is also probably picked, as its 

 superior quality to the other specimen from the same locality (Masunia) 

 is very marked. Neglecting these two, therefore, we obtain the following 

 average percentage for Rajmehal coals : — 



Fixed carbon 42*13, volatile 39'5, ash 16'37. Including these two 

 specimens the average becomes — 



Fixed carbon 44-17, volatile 39-27, ash 16-56. 



This still indicates an average composition inferior to that of a 

 large series of coals from the Raniganj field. 



In reference to the following table of coal seams, it should be re- 

 marked that it is, at first sight, calculated to give an exaggerated idea 

 of the amount of useful coal to be obtained in the area ; many, or per- 

 haps most, of the localities have, strictly speaking, no right to be included 



( 228 ) 



