850 Report on specimens of Coal. [Oct. 



Shekh Kera'mat Ali, and called mumia, was found by Mr. Pid- 

 dington to contain nitrous salts, sulphur, and bitumen. 



Of a similar nature may be the combustible No. 8, from the north 

 of Cabul, but I have as yet only examined it as a combustible. 



I now proceed to the detailed examination of each specimen, adding, 

 for convenience, the remarks of Captain Burnes, as to their locality. 

 I have also placed at the foot of the list the muster lately received 

 from Captain Wade, Political Agent at Loodiana. I have deposited 

 a small fragment of each kind, in sealed bottles, in the Asiatic Society's 

 museum, for preservation. 



J. Prinsep, Assay Master. 



Specimen I. — " From Shahandara near Kalabagh, about 15 miles 

 from the Indus found in abundance half way up a hill two miles north 

 of the village." 



A fine jet or pitch coal : of a glossy velvet black color ; does not 

 soil ; may be cut and worked ; fracture conchoidal and vitreous : — has a 

 slight asphaltic smell. The fragments coated with an earthy matter 

 easily washed off. Specific gravity 1.166 ; burns with rich flame and 

 copious scintillations. Composition as a fuel — 



Volatile matter, 50.9 



Carbon or coke, 47.5 



Earthy residue, 1.6 



100.0 



Specimen 2. — " From another locality of the Shahandara deposit, 

 at the base of the hill among sandstone." 



This is precisely the same jet as above described, but many of the 

 small fragments have the sandy matrix adhering, hence on an average 

 specimen uncleaned the result was : specific gravity 1 .454. 



Composition — Volatile matter, 34.3 



Carbon, 18.7 



Earthy matter, 47.0 



100.0 



Specimen 3. — " Coal of Kalabagh, found three miles south of 

 Shakandara, and nearer Kalabagh, in a fissure of the rock, to be seen 

 in three different places off the high road." — B. 



This is more of a coal (or rather lignite) than either of the pre- 

 ceding. It shews the woody fibre, and the alternation of glistening 



