20 BALL : GEOLOGY OF AURUNGA AND HUTAR COAL FIELDS. 



section exposed, it is almost certain that it would give conclusive evidence 

 of the existence of fracture and distortion in close proximity to the 

 spring-. Not improbably the hills at Joreesukhwa, a little further west, 

 will, when examined, mark the line of fault. Reference to the map will, 

 perhaps, render the above description more clear, and justify the probable 

 correctness of the supposition. 



The highest temperature of the water of the several outlets did not 



exceed 132* F. The amount of water poured forth. 

 Temperature. • /. i i 



though not very copious, formed a steady stream. 



Sulphuretted hydrogen was emitted freely in bubbles, and its odour was 

 apparent for some distance all around. 



The springs being situated in the sandy bed of a running stream are 

 No peculiar develop- ^^^ accompanied by any unusual development of 

 ment of vegetable life. vegetable life. 



My attention was particularly directed to this point since I have, in 

 the basin of the Mahanadi, met with some very interesting instances of 

 considerable modification of the Flcra in the vicinity of certain hot 

 springs. I hope to obtain further data^or the treatment of the subject 

 hereafter. 



It will be sufficient to indicate here how, in ancient geological periods, 

 when hot springs were probably more abundant, there may have been 

 local hot-house climates which would serve to explain such difficulties in 

 connection with fossil floras as the occurrence of tropical or sub-tropical 

 plants in the supposed glacial beds of Talchir age. 



In the Hutar coal field in the vicinity of the village of Thatha 



(called Kokraha on the map), when examining" the 

 Hot spring at Thatha. ^ . . 



bed of the Thatha river, my attention was attracted 



by a strong sulphurous odour to a copious outburst of hot water, of the 



existence of which I had no previous intimation. Here the spring is 



distinctly connected with a marked disturbance of the Barakar beds, and 



the occurrence of a strong ridge of pseudomorphie quartz or fault rock, 



which is coincident with a line of fracture described on another page. 



( 20 ) 



