400 OCCURRENCE OF COAL, 



the rock which, in most of the Coal fields, immediately overlies the Coal. It 

 possesses coincidences in Mineralogical and Geological character, which add 

 strength to the supposition — such are its argillaceous and conglomerate beds, 

 its low degree of consistence, Sec. &c. ; but leaving this question for the present, 

 as one for the determination of which further evidence is required, I shall 

 proceed to give the result of my examination of this rock, along nearly the 

 whole of its extent within the British possessions in this quarter, adding such 

 particulars with regard to the occurrence of Coal in it, as I am in possession 

 of. 



Along the whole of this tract, which is bounded by the Seilej and 

 Kali rivers, this sand-stone forms the common boundary of the plain, and 

 mountain countries. It does not attain to any considerable elevation : its 

 highest peaks, which are between the Jumna and the Ganges, rising about 

 two thousand feet above the plains at their feet, or three thousand above the 

 sea. In other quarters, as at Ropar on the Setlej, it is scarcely elevated one 

 hundred above the bed of that river, which itself is about one thousand feet^ 

 It is found under three very distinct and well marked types. 1. The first is 

 a Micaceous sand-stone of a grey color, containing also scales of Chlorite, 

 and not unfrequently a minute proportion of Carbonate of Lime. When the 

 latter is at all considerable, it possesses great hardness and tenacity, but it is 

 friable and incoherent very often, and little better than loose sand. This type 

 is rarely of the conglomerate structure, and never to any depth. 2. Argil- 

 laceous beds of a reddish color with particles of Mica, and also of Chlorite 

 disseminated, which may be separated by mechanical analysis from the finer 

 portion, a reddish bole, composed of Alumina and Silica, colored by oxid of 

 iron, A small portion of Carbonate of Lime is also found, and when this is 

 more abundant, it assumes the hardness and sonorous qualities of the more well- 

 defined rocks. The Carbonate of Lime is generally found in greatest quantity 

 in the hard tubercular masses of every size, which are peculiar to these and 



