58 ' HUGHES. KARANPtJRA COAL-FIELDS. 



The magnetic iron ore must be looked for in the metamorphic' rocks. 

 It is the purest form of iron ore, and usually contains from 65 to 70 

 per cent, of metallic iron. 



The manufacture of iron is one of the chief industrial features of 

 the Hazaribagh district. Villages exclusively inhabited by Agariahs 

 (or iron-smelters) are often to be met with, and the number of furnaces 

 which are kept at work exceeds two hundred. The busiest season is 

 the cold weather, as during the rains most of the men are engaged in 

 cultivation. 



Limestone. — This important material so essential as a flux, although 

 found along the edge of the field in many places, does not, I am afraid, 

 occm' in sufficient quantity to be available for large works for a 

 lengthened period. 



Kunkur occurs over a large area of the field, but it is difficult to 

 collect, and is of no great thickness. It is found along the banks of 

 nearly every river. 



The most important accumulations of fresh water limestone that I 

 met with occur where the Beltu river falls over the face of the Hazari- 

 bagh scarp, and in the Daini ghat. 



Some crystalline limestone of very fair quality is exposed at the 

 southern edge of the metamorphic inlier near Tungi (in the south 

 Karanpura field) and also near Rai in the larger field. 



Very silicious limestone, of little practical use, is met with on the 

 table-land of Hazaribagh. 



( 342 ) 



