10G Notes on the Sandstone formation , &c. [No. 2, 



Notes on tlie Sandstone formation, &c. near Buxa Fort, Bhootan 

 Dooars. — By Captain H. H. Godwin Austen, F.B.G.S., Survey- 

 or, Topographical Survey. Plate IV. 



[Received 26th April, 1865.— Read 3rd May, 1865.] 



Having heard from Asst.-Surgeon Fergusson, R. A. at Buxa, that 

 he had found several pieces of coal in the bed of a nulla below the 

 position near Santrabari, I paid a visit to the spot accompanied by 

 that officer. Buxa Fort, at 2,400 feet, is situated near the foot of the 

 first range of hills, that rise above it on the north to a height of 6,000 

 feet above the sea ; this ridge being the continuation of the western 

 water-shed of the Tzinchu, the river from Tassi Chotzong in Bhootan. 

 The rock of this range is a well stratified gneiss, thick beds of quart- 

 zite occurring in it, being even schistose in places. The plateau on 

 which stands the Fort of Buxa is composed of debris and talus from 

 the hills above, and is situated in a valley formed by spurs from the 

 northern ridge. The eastern of these spurs is of the formation 

 mentioned above, but the western is found to be of sandstone, 

 having a light ochre tint, coarse and micaceous, with here and there 

 water-worn pebbles in strings ; its stratification not being so well 

 marked as in the sandstones of the Siwalik group. The ridges on the 

 west of this are all of this same formation, but do not extend much 

 higher than 3,000 feet. As one proceeds down the western spur to 

 Santrabari, the sandstone is soon hidden by a surface talus of the 

 older rocks, and the rock in situ is only to be seen by descending 

 into the deep ravines. Crossing the stream at Santrabari, proceeding 

 east and topping a spur covered with sal trees, I descended into another 

 ravine, very precipitous on the western side : here the sandstone was 

 well displayed, and several pieces of the coal were soon found in the 

 bed of the ravine. The outermost beds of sandstone are very soft, with 

 a light bluish tinge, and in them the coal, properly speaking lignite, 

 was discovered, occurring in lumps and strings : these lumps shewed 

 the woody structure well, splitting in the direction of the fibre. The 

 form of a portion of a tree pressed into an elliptical shape, was 

 well seen in one instance, but I could find no impression of leaves. 



