510 Report on the Salt Range, [Nov. 



these, as well as the lignites of the tertiary strata of the Rhine, &c. 

 present characters so totally different from those of true bituminous 

 coal, and usually contain such a large amount of earthy matter inti- 

 mately mingled with their component structure, that they are incapable 

 of giving out a continued heat, and have only been worked, in the 

 absence of other fuel or in localities where they occur near the surface 

 and are easy of extraction. 



We have already mentioned the bituminous shale, or in other words, 

 the carboniferous deposit of the salt range, and its geological position 

 among the other strata. That it is more recent than the saliferous 

 formation we entertain no doubt, and are inclined to refer it to the oolitic 

 era, believing that the coal in general character will be found to bear a 

 close resemblance to those coals above alluded to as occurring in that 

 formation. 



General character of the Coal. — In general appearance the more 

 compact specimens of the coal of the salt range, procured from parts 

 of the seam out of the reach of atmospheric influence, resemble that 

 variety known under the name of splint coal. It is however much 

 softer and more brittle, and its relationship to the more imperfect class 

 of coals, known under the name of lignites, is established by the fact 

 of the occurrence of patches of brown half-decomposed vegetable 

 matter associated with it, and at times to be found included in its most 

 compact portions. 



To the natives of the district its properties, as a fuel, are unknown, 

 but under the name of Sangee Momiai, it is used by them as a medi- 

 cine, given internally in powder along with milk, in all bruises or wounds 

 both of men and animals, the cure of which it is said greatly to faci- 

 litate. 



The coal is somewhat difficult to ignite, and at first emits a large 

 quantity of smoke. When combustion however is once established, it 

 burns without caking, gives out a considerable amount of flame and 

 heat, and leaves a large quantity of ash. 



It is particularly free of iron pyrites, which abounds in the bituminous 

 shales, with which it is invariably surrounded, and hence in burning 

 gives out no sulphurious smell, an objection to which lignites in general 

 are liable. 



For the purposes of steam navigation, or when flame with a moderate 



