278 Notes upon the Geology of the Bajmahal Hills. [No. 3. 



grit. In their associated beds, in the prevalence of thick massive 

 sandstones, as compared with the constant repetition of successive 

 beds of shales and sandy beds, the group of rocks here differs 

 materially from the Burgo beds. Judging from mineral character, 

 (for unfortunately there is no continuous section ;) they seem to 

 belong to a higher portion of the series and to be in the general 

 section above the Burgo beds. The coal is all earthy. 



Passing northward now to the Hurra field, we find a very consi^ 

 derable amount of coal, but of a very inferior quality close to the 

 surface. Here Capt. Tanner sank some pits to ascertain the value 

 of this coal, and more recently Messrs. Duncan and Sweedland, 

 I was informed, sank a pit to some 60 feet in depth, but did not 

 succeed in finding any beds, other than those visible at the surface, 

 or rather exposed in the bed of the little hill stream adjoining. 

 Indeed the close proximity of the gneiss rocks to the east (within 

 150 yards of the spot) might have led to the anticipation of such 

 a result. This pit gave a section of 



Alternating beds of shaly sandstone and shale, 9 



Coaly shale and coal, 4 6 



Mudstone, with coaly partings, ,... 2 6 



Coal or coaly shale, 2 



Mudstone as before, 1 



Sandstones of different degrees of hardness, 30 



Sandstone and shale. 



There is above these beds, another bed of the same coaly shale, 

 or coal, but none of these afford coal of any good quality, there 

 being in all at least 60 per cent, of earthy matter or shale, For such 

 purposes as burning lime or bricks this fuel might be turned to 

 profitable account, although for the ordinary uses for which coal is 

 employed, it would prove an inferior fuel. The extent of it is, no 

 doubt, considerable, dipping with a slight inclination to the East 

 and N. E.* 



* In a subsequent communication, dated 15th Feb- 1854, the value of these 

 coal beds in the Damin-i-koh, as likely to produce an abundance of good useful 

 fuel for the purposes here indicated (burning bricks, lime, &c.) and, as possibly 

 on more extended investigation, and on being opened out more fully, proving of 

 better quality and of greater extent, than judging from the portions now seen, 



