4 HUGHES : írknÓnf COAL-FIELD. 
The area of the coal-bearing portion of the field is very small, but 
its position and the fact of a direct metalled road passing by Itkhûrî 
from Chatrá to the Grand Trunk Road, are points in its favour.* 
The Public Works Department might very profitably quarry some 
of the coal, and use it instead of firewood for performing work in 
connection with the construction of culverts and bridges, not only of 
the Chatrá road, but also those of the Grand Trunk Road, that are within 
a reasonable. distance. 
I heard, when making enquiries on the spot, that coal was profitably 
carted to Sahibganj (Gya) for burning bricks and lime. 
Estimate of coal.—A very rough estimate of the amount of coal 
available, such as it is, gives about a million and a half to two millions 
of tons. 
Tronstone.— Besides the laterite, much of which contains a large per- 
centage of iron, there are veins of magnetite, and deposits of hematite, 
scattered through the crystalline series. 
The Barákars in this area do not contain any iron ore; the 
rocks of the group here belonging to the horizon which comes just below 
the beds which, in the Káranpürá field, yield so much of the iron ore 
worked there. 
Sandstone.—I could not recommend the utilization of any of the 
Damúdá sandstones. They are too free, and too fissile to last long. The 
‘crystalline series can yield much stronger and much more ornamental 
stone. 
CALCUTTA, 
15th July 1870. 
* Another small coal-field occurs between [tkhiri and -Hazáríbágh or nearly so. The 
nearest village is Chopéh, which is about S miles west-north-west of Hazáríbágh town. 
The field is on the higher level of the Hazáríbágh plateau, about 2,000 feet above the sea. 
Itis very small in area—not more than half of a square mile—and by no means rich in coal. 
TYO: 
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