72 HUGHES : SOUTHEKN COAL-FIELDS OF UEWAH GONDWAN'A BASIN. 



brown, salmon, and various shades of grey and yellow are the most com- 

 mon colours ; scattered pebbles and strings of pebbles are frequent ; ferru- 

 ginous matter, either in bands, in strings, or in plates, or as a general 

 indurating agent, is freely distributed ; mica is not nearly so universal a 

 mineral component as it is in the Barakar group. 



A very marked feature in many of the sandstones is their weathered 



appearance, when owing to unequal degradation 

 Weatbered surface. . ... 



their surfaces are traversed by chisel-edged ribs 



running usually in various directions, but occasionally presenting the 

 symmetiy of geometrical figures. 



In some respects, that is, in reference to their petrological and litholo- 

 gical features, they might at once be placed partly with the Panche't group, 

 and partly with the Mahadeva group as understood in the Bengal 

 Conflict of palaontolo- coal-fields ; but tbe palaeontological evidence is 

 gical evidence. conflicting, for such fossils as have been found in 



them indicate a somewhat lower horizon than that of the Mahadeva. 

 Perhaps the Kamthi group, as defined in the Wardha valley coal-field, 

 would more fittingly embrace the various characters that appertain to these 

 supra-Barakar beds, there being in that area a like assortment of clays, 

 varied sandstones, pebble beds, and abundant ferruginous matter. From 

 my published notes in the Records of the Survey it may be gathered 

 how strongly I was of opinion that in the valley of the Johilla the strata 

 immediately above the unquestionable coal-measures were Mahadevas. 

 On re-consideration, however, I think the suggestion of Dr. Feistmantel in 

 the Palasontologia Indica embodies a more reasonable view of the situa- 

 tion, and that some portion of the area mapped as supra-Barakars should 

 form an intermediate zone between the Mahadevas and the coal-measures. 

 Taking the section of the Johilla river in ascending geological order 

 from the Barakar boundary, there is a small island 



Fossils* 



at the mouth of the Bichna Nala, and in some pur- 

 plish fine-grained argillaceous sandstone that forms a thin bed amongst 

 more massive sandstones that I had judged to be Mahadevas, I found 

 Vertelraria indica, Glossopteris communis, and Glossopteris indica. On 

 the left bank of the Bichna there are strong pebble beds and ferrugi- 

 ( 208 ) 



