Chap. IV. §4.] raniganj group. 95 



Raniganj coal, the mine took fire, and was necessarily abandoned ; a 

 general sinking of the surface subsequently took place,* so that it is 

 probable the coal remaining as pillars and that unworked, beneath the 

 area occupied by the old mine, was consumed. The extent, however, 

 was small, probably not exceeding 200 yards square. The new colliery 

 North of the dykes is far more extensive, stretching for nearly half a mile 

 from South to North, and but little less at its widest part from East to 

 West. The 9 feet of coal forming the upper portion of the seam are 

 first extracted ; the coal is excellent, though scarcely so light as that 

 of Sirsol ; that from the two lower seams is even a better fuel for 

 most purposes, but it contains iron pyrites largely, and, consequently, is 

 liable to decompose. Formerly, when all coal was sent to Calcutta by 

 river, and was liable to one, or, in some cases, to two years' exposure to 

 the weather upon the bank, and in the boats, this lower portion of the 

 seam could not be worked, but the facilities afforded by the railway 

 for rapid conveyance have enabled it to be sent to market in good 

 condition, and it is now largely extracted. 



The mine at Raniganj is bounded on the North-west by a large 



fault,f bearing N. N. E. to S. S. W., having a 



Faults near Raniganj. ° 



down-throw to the East. It is probable that the 

 fault increases in amount towards the North, as the beds which, on its 

 Eastern side 3 dip "West, on the West, or up-throw side, dip to the 

 South. Its amount at Raniganj is probably not much more than 

 150 feet ; what it may be further North it is difficult to say, and 

 it is impossible to ascertain, until the workings are far more extensive 

 how far it may be complicated by being split or by cross faults. If 

 continuous, it would pass between the Raniganj and Sirsol collieries, 



* Mr. Williams's Report, page 40 ; and his statement is borne out by the appearance of the 

 surface. 



f More correctly by two, or, in one place, three parallel faults very near each other. 

 They are, however, in all essentials, equivalent to one large fault, and may be considered 

 as such. 



