130 RANIGANJ COAL FIELD. [CHAP. V. 



on the West branch of the Nunia, South of Maitur. The principal 

 species were of Sphenopteris, Pecopteris, and other 

 Ferns, distinct from Damuda forms, but with 

 them, and in far greater abundance than any other form, was preserved 

 the plant (Schizoneura ?) already mentioned as occurring plentifully in 

 the Eaniganj series. No Zamias or Cycads of any kind were met with, 

 but fragments of a true Tceniopteris were found. 



The distribution of the Panchet group is simple. They occupy the 

 hollow formed by the synclinal in the centre of the 

 field. To the South, an anticlinal, least just North 

 of Beharinath, and greater East and West of that point, brings up the 

 Raniganj series. South of this the beds roll over again, and the Pan- 

 chet rocks are once more brought in at several places, with high dips, 

 close to the South boundary. 

 A good section of the lowest portion of the Panchet group is seen 

 between the Grand Trunk Road and the Nunia, 

 just West of the 139th milestone from Calcutta, 

 and about 2 miles West of Asansol dak bungalow, where the lower 

 grey shales are exposed. The best sections of the red clay and coarse 

 sandstone are South of the Damuda, in the ravines and broken ground 

 West of the village of Baspaitali. A good section also occurs North 

 of the river, in the stream to the West of Pusathanpur, and the bone 

 bed, as already stated, is exposed on the South of the river, North of 

 Deoli, and just East of the mouth of the Besram stream. 



(b.) Conglomerates and grits of Panchet, Beharinath;, 8fc. 

 The higher portions of the large hills of Beharinath and Panchet 

 are composed of rocks, differing considerably, in 



Mineral character. 



mineral characters, from any others m the field. 

 They are mainly coarse ferruginous grits and conglomerates, with, in 

 places, thin beds of loose white sandstone, and hard, brownish-red shales, 

 micaceous in parts. Similar beds form Garangi Hill, and are seen, 



