1854.] Notes on the Geology of the Punjab Salt Range. 667 



of a whitish colour with carbonaceous markings. This bed is, how- 

 ever, usually associated with carbonaceous shales and lignite of very 

 variable thickness. The deposit is most remarkable for affording 

 the so-called " coals" of the range, to wit, the above carbonaceous 

 shales and lignite. In no part of the range is any fuel that can 

 possibly prove of economic value. The following extract, from a 

 report I submitted on the Baghanwalla " coal" will, I think, confirm 

 this view ; that being the only place where there is the least approach 

 to a regular seam. 



" Para. 3. — Having satisfied myself as to the state of the road, I 

 commenced working into the face of the seam of coal on the west 

 bank of the nullah, in which it is exposed ; but found the quality 

 deteriorate, and, on the third day, the coal had so thinned out and 

 was so earthy, that I relinquished the spot, and recommenced on the 

 east bank where previous excavations had been made, but which was 

 less eligible, as the face of the seam there forms the bed of a trans- 

 verse gully, which would with difficulty during rain be prevented 

 from filling the works with water. The coal from this spot is as good 

 as the seam affords, and some hundred maunds may be readily 

 obtained by superficial digging." 



I may also add that, after lying some time exposed, the whole of 

 the coal mined might be easily screened through a \ or \ inch sieve. 

 This seam is more free from sulphur (iron pyrites) than is generally 

 the case, and also is associated with small crystals of selenite. The 

 following is a comparison of the Baghanwalla and Kala Bagh lignites. 



Volatile matter per cent. 



Portion of a large lump of Kala Bagh 

 lignite, colour black, and seemed free from 

 pyrites, 53 



Baghanwalla lignite in coarse powder, 

 colour brownish-black, 34 



The position of the Kala Bagh lignite is somewhat different from 

 that in the salt range proper. It occurs indeed beneath the upper 

 limestone, but is a part of that series, as may be seen by the follow- 

 ing section : 



Section of alum shales at Kotki (Trans-Indus). 



