DISTRIBUTION OF THE BARÁKARS. 9 
The type of sandstone that predominates in the coal-fields of the 
lower Damüdá valley becomes gradually subordinated as we proceed 
westward, and in the Karanpura field this is no longer the representative 
rock of the group. I was consequently quite prepared to find in the 
Daltonganj area the further development of the change which is so 
noticeable in Káranpürá. And instead of the typical Barákar sand- 
stone of the more easterly fields, the most prevalent is a false bedded 
rock with fine and coarse layers of sand deposited often at an angle 
of nearly 25° with the plane of bedding; texture granular; friable; 
earthy ; slightly calcareous. It breaks away easily under the hammer, 
and is not adapted for being worked into grinding stones. In colour it 
is usually more yellow than white; in this respect resembling a very 
prevalent sandstone of the Raniganj group. It presents, indeed, a 
semi-‘ Barakar’ and semi-‘ Raniganj’ appearance. 
With the exception of this change in the aspect of the sandstones 
there is nothing of any further interest to notice, and I may now des- 
eribe the distribution of the group and give details of the coals that 
oceur in it. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BARAKARS. 
Beginning the description of them in the east; the lowest beds seen 
in the Amanat are exposed just north of the village 
Amanat. 
of Kumand.* They are not the usual pebble and 
orit beds that so generally form the contact rocks, but sandstones that 
assimilate the variety-of which I have given the characters above. 
There are but few seams of coal exposed in the Amanat, and those 
few are of no workable size. 
* Koomand or Kumand. ‘This name of this village is not mentioned in the morning, 
as there is a superstitious dread, current amongst the natives, that by doing so they will 
not obtain food during the day. It is not until after noon that its name can be mentioned 
with safety. Before noon it is called * Burkadih’ (? Barkatdih-—blessing-giver: Kumand— 
snare). 
B 
