1853.] SANKEY — GEOLOGY OP CENTRAL INDIA. 65 



2. On the Geology of some parts of Central India. 

 By Lieutenant R. H. Sankey, H.E.I.C.S. 



[Communicated by Prof. Ansted, F.G.S.] 



[Abstract.] 



In this paper the author gave a very general sketch of the distribu- 

 tion of the different classes of rocks and soils of Central and Southern 

 India. The "red-soil" and calc-tuff (Kunkur) of the granitic dis- 

 tricts, the "black-soil" of the basaltic districts, the "laterite" of the 

 Konkun coast and other districts, called also locally "iron-clay" and 

 " lithomarge," and perhaps the diamond-breccia of Southern India, 

 are superficial deposits. 



The age of the immense basalt or trap formation of Central India 

 is unknown. An extensive freshwater deposit (or series of deposits) 

 occurs in this trap-formation ; and Lieut. Sankey observes that it is 

 invariably found between two layers of trap. The author considers 

 it probable that these freshwater beds are the remains of a lacus- 

 trine or fluviatile formation extending from Bombay to Rajamundry, 

 or entirely across the peninsula from sea to sea, in one direction ; and 

 from Medcondah (in the centre of Hydrabad) to Saugor (towards the 

 north of Bundelcund in the other direction) ; an extent of nearly 

 700 miles in length and 500 in breadth. 



These freshwater beds in the trap have been especially observed 

 at Nagpoor*, Jubbulpoor-|-, and in the Sichel Hills j. 



In the same district sandstone and limestone occur to a great 

 extent — the former known as the diamond-stone §; the latter charac- 

 terized by fish-remains of Jurassic age |1 . But the relations of these 

 rocks vdth the basalt are not evident. 



Lieut. Sankey makes especial reference to the late researches of 

 the Rev. Messrs. Hislop and Hunter in the vicinity of Nagpoor^, 

 and concludes by detailing the observations made by himself and 

 Dr. Jerdon in the Kamptee, Oomrait, and Pachmurra districts, on the 

 coal, coal-shale, and sandstone there met with. The coal occurs about 

 five miles north of the village of Oomrait (which is in Lat. 22° 8'. 

 Long. 78° 46', and fifteen miles to the west of Chindwarra), on the 

 bank of a stream at the village of Chota Burkoi, where it outcrops as 

 a layer about 1 foot thick. The shale and sandstone with which the 

 coal is associated have afforded numerous remains of plants, as Pe- 

 copteris, Glossopteris, Sphenopteris, Phyllothecce, and Vertebrarice, 

 such as occur in the Burdwan coal of N.E. India. 



On the north and west of Kamptee this fossiliferous sandstone 



* " Geology of the Nagpur State;" by the Rev. S. Hislop; Journ. Bombay 

 Asiat. Soc. July 1853, pp. 58-76. 



t Dr. Spilsbury, Asiat. Soc. Journ. 1833. 



X Dr. Malcolmson, Trans. Geol. Soc. 2 ser. vol. v. pt. 3. 



^; See Memoirs, by Captain Franklin, Geol. Trans. 2nd ser. vol. iii. pt. 1 ; and 

 Dr. Malcolmson, vol. v. pt. 3. 



II See Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. vii. p. 272 ; and vol. ix. p. 351. 



il A fine collection of the freshwater fossils of this district have been presented 

 to the Society by the Rev. Messrs. Hislop and Hunter. 



