MEMOIRS 



OF 



THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 



The Southern Coal-fields of the Satpura Gondwana basin, 

 by E. A. JONES, A.R.S.M., Geological Survey of India. 



CHAPTER I. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



§ I. — Introductory. 



From comparatively early times there has always been a strong 

 desire to work the coal occurring in the Damudas of the Sdtpura hills ; 

 and numerous efforts in this direction have been made, and small 

 quantities of coal extracted, and practically tested with more or 

 less favourable results. The only endeavour, however, that can be 

 said to have met with any success, is the establishment of the colliery 

 at Mohpani. It has long been doubtful whether the coal at this place 

 might not at any time become exhausted or the supply cease on 

 account of the unremunerative cost of obtaining it ; and as the pre- 

 carious nature of this supply became more evident, endeavours were 

 made to find coal in sufficient quantities, and in accessible localities 

 in other parts of the Sdtpura region. 



With this object in view, borings were undertaken in the alluvial 



ground to the north of the Mohpani field ; in the 

 Experimental borings. . 



neighbourhood or patches or lalchir rocks; 



in the Dudhi, Tawa, and Morun valleys ; and in the neighbourhood of 



the known seams in the Betul district. 



( i ) 



Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. XXIV, Pt. i. 



