766 Geological Notes on the Northern Conhan. [Dec. 



The direction of these highly inclined strata is N. E. and S. W., 

 corresponding to similar strata on the opposite or Rattanpdr side of 

 the nullah, — dip N. W. The extent of this section, as far as it is 

 well exposed, is ahout 40 feet of the bank. 



The banks of the nullah above Rattanptir shew irregularly stratified 

 masses of a compact earthy rock with dendritic figuring ; also a con- 

 glomerate containing some appearances, though not quite unequivocal, 

 of fossil bone. These are not accompanied, as far as I could observe, 

 by fossil shells, and it is only from having since found undoubted 

 fossil matter in similar deposits that I have thought them worth for- 

 warding for comparison. 



This nullah contains rolled masses of jaspers, various agates, &c. 

 &c, but no trace of a rolled piece of any variety of trap as may be 

 seen in the bed of the Nerbudda near the Kabbir Bar. 



In the village of Rattatipur the cornelians are collected and exposed 

 to the air for a month or two. If on being chipped they are found 

 likely to be worth working, they are put into earthen pots (the usual 

 water pots) with some earth and sand, and exposed to a fire for a 

 day and night. At the end of the hot season they are sent down 

 the Nerbudda by way of Broach to Cambay, to be cut and polished. 



The cornelian mines are about four miles from Rattanp&r in a thick 

 jungle. The people who work them return every night to Rattanpiir, 

 there being no habitations near the mines. From the principal spot 

 now working the following small hamlets are thus distanced. 



Damlde, one mile south. 



Ahmod, one and half mile north. 



Padwana, 3 miles south-east. 



To the eastward all is jungle. 



The stones are said to be found over a space of about four miles. 



The formation containing cornelians is a deep bed of red gravel, 

 very like the London gravel : in it are found pebbles of various form 

 and size, of the different species or vai-ieties of chalcedony, — irregu- 

 larly imbedded, and not in layers like flints in chalk. 



The mines are usually sunk to about thirty feet, but on digging to 

 sixty feet neither hard rock nor water is met with. I therefore 

 conclude that this is a partial deposit entirely above the sandstone- 

 conglomerate formation, which is denuded at the surface of the nullah 

 before mentioned, which forms also the Bawa Gorea hill, and I believe 

 the general range of the Raj-piplas. 



As far as I could observe, Jhere is no sign of organic remains in 

 these gravel beds, — but every thing hereabouts should be examined 

 carefully, as the building stones in several of the villages contain 



