1842.] Mineral Resources of India. 831 



neither runs into mass, nor forms the least adhesion one piece with 

 another ; the laminae shew a partial separation from each other, and 

 sometimes curl up. Its appearance after considerable exposure to 

 heat is slaty, and the few ashes formed, and adhering to the surface, of 

 a ferruginous brown. 



Experiment 1st. 



Two lbs. weight of this coal was exposed to the strong heat of 

 a blast furnace in an open crucible for one hour and forty-five minutes, 

 and lost only eleven ounces of its original weight. The last ten minutes 

 of this experiment it gave no flame. The appearance when cold, was 

 as stated above, with this addition, that many of the black shining parts 

 remain unchanged, shining with a vitreous texture, and more brittle 

 than before. 



Experiment 2d. 



In the smith's forge, I found it inferior to common charcoal for 

 producing the desired heat for working iron : and the same bar of iron 

 which in about eight minutes under the heat of a common charcoal 

 fire threw off scintillating sparks from its surface when taken from the 

 forge, gave a very different appearance after being twelve minutes in 

 the forge heated with the Pachete coal. The bar came forth with a 

 rather dull heat, threw off no sparks, and the iron instead of yielding 

 freely to the stroke of the hammer, flew off in large scales from its sur- 

 face ; and the workmen unanimously pronounced this fuel unfit for 

 their use. 



Experiment Zd. 



I tried it also in combination with the English coal, the result was 

 an inferior heat to that produced from Europe coal and charcoal. 



Under such demonstrative proof, I do not hesitate to express my 

 opinion, that the discovery of this coal promises no advantage for the 

 uses of our Blacksmiths in iron work : but for household or culinary 

 purposes, I think it may be found very desirable. For a house in par- 

 ticular to burn in grates or stoves, I think it desirable. It gives heat 

 enough for our houses in India; is free from sulphureous smoke or 

 the suffocating effect of charcoal, and makes little or no dirt. In 



