Chap. IV. § 4.] raniganj group. 101 



d. A thin bed of coal, 6 to 9 inches thick. 



e. A second narrow shale parting. 



f. A bed of coal 3 feet to 6 feet. This differs slightly in thickness, 

 more so than any of the others. 



But beneath this there is a wide distinction between the seams. 



In Raniganj and Damulia no more coal is found ; 

 Comparison of sections. 



in Jemeri, Harisptir, and Mangalpur there are two 



more seams of coal, and two shale partings. Still there is nothing im- 

 probable in this amount of difference being shown by a seam of coal with- 

 in a few miles, and there would be on this score no difficulty in believing 

 that all of the seams were identical. But it is evident that the Jemeri 

 seam is far lower in the section than the Damulia seam. Equally clear 

 that the Damulia seam is identical with that of Raniganj, and there 

 can be no question that, judging from the astonishing exactitude of 

 the sections, the Mangalpur bed is far more likely to be the same as 

 that of Jemeri than as that at Raniganj. (See comparative Sections.) 



Again, as regards the Sirsol seam, it appears that, in a considerable 

 series of beds, underlying the Raniganj seam, we have no representa- 

 tive of it. The only bed of coal of any thickness is that of Jemeri, 

 and it, instead of corresponding to the section at the neighboring 

 colliery of Sirsol, answers to that at the far more distant mine of Man- 

 galpur. We are therefore driven to the conclusion that the Sirsol 

 seam is higher than that of Raniganj, unless, as is improbable, it be 

 identical.* 



The principal fault West of Raniganj must therefore be continued 

 up the valley, West of Sirsol, and it must there be of very considerable 

 dimensions. There is, in all probability, only a small fault between 

 the collieries of Raniganj and Sirsol. 



* If the lower parting of shale in the Raniganj seam were wanting, its section would be 

 nearly identical with that of Sirsol. But these small partings seem singularly persistent. 

 There is, of course, a possibility that the seams may be the same, but it is not very likely. 



