240 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 



Upper Mahanadi, and stretching southward to the more elevated 

 land about Bustar. High-level laterite was also found, giving a 

 plateau character to the otherwise serrated mountain features. 



Mr. Hacket's work in Rajputana also ranked as in new ground. 

 He carried his observations to some distance south of Ajmir, where 

 he obtained a further section of the metamorphic rocks transitionally 

 underlying the Arvali series. 



The recognition of the Karharbari coal measures as a distinguish- 

 able horizon in the lower Gondwana series was an interesting step 

 in the knowledge of these formations. Dr. Feistmantel's pala30nto- 

 logical researches indicate that their affinity is rather with the 

 Talchirs than with the Damudas as hitherto imagined. 



Among the detailed work of the year, an interesting area of 

 the Gondwana formations was completed by Mr. Hughes, in 

 extension of his previous work in the Wardha valley, the geological 

 lines being carried down to the Godavari at and above Sironcha. 

 A practical result of this work was the accurate demarcation of a 

 considerable area of possibly productive coal measures in the 

 Nizam's territories about Khairgura and Tandur, and again on 

 the Godavari at Sandrapali. In the former position actual coal 

 crops were found, and in the latter promising indications of the 

 same formation. 



Mr. Foote, during the season, completed his survey of the coastal 

 zone of Gondwana deposits through the Nellore and Gantur 

 districts up to the Kistna river, thus bringing his lines into con- 

 nexion with Mr. King's work in the Godavari district south of 

 Ellore. The deposits which were the special object of his study 

 are very obscurely exposed as irregular patches along the margin 

 of the crystalline rocks forming the low ground from the base of 

 the Eastern Ghats, and on the east they pass rapidly under the 

 alluvium of the flat seaboard. Mr. Foote has made considerable 

 collections of the mixed marine and terrestrial fossils peculiar to 

 the Gondwana strata in this position. 



The coal explorations which had been prosecuted for some seasons 

 past in the Satpura basin unfortunately proved unsuccessful, 

 though in some cases the borings were carried to a greater depth 

 than anywhere else in India. 



Some observations on underground temperature in these borings 

 were instituted by Mr. Medlicott. The lowest depth at which 

 successful observations were taken was 370 feet, and the most 



