14 
HALL AND SIMPSON: COALFIELDS OF INDIA. 
which, in every case where excavation has been attempted, have 
been speedily exhausted. 
In 1869 samples obtained from the sinking of a well on Viper 
Island were forwarded to the offices of the Geological Survey of 
India. The coal was a lustrous jet and from its appearance pro- 
bably did not occur as a regular deposit. The result of the analysis 
of an average sample was as follows : ^ — 
Volatile matter 26-0 
Fixed carbon ..... 50-8 
Ash 23-2 
In 1903 specimens of coal and fossil plants were forwarded to 
the offices of the Geological Survey of India by the Deputy Conser- 
vator of Forests, Andamans. The plants were dicotyledonous and 
probably of Tertiary age, whilst the coal showed Tertiary character- 
istics and appeared to be impure. 
In 1845 Busch, and in 1846 and 1857-59, Drs. Rink^ and 
Hochstetter* found coal on Little Nicobar, Trak, Tries, Milu, 
Kondul and Great Nicobar Islands. The former states that the 
nests of brown coal occurred without any order, sometimes in the 
sandstones and sometimes in the shale, and appeared to be derived 
from drift-wood. Mr. Ball subsequently confirmed the discoveries, 
but considered that so far as examination has yet gone there is no 
ground for believing that a valuable deposit of coal exists in the 
islands. This opinion is confirmed by Mr. G. H. Tipper* who 
recently explored portions of the interior of Great Nicobar and other 
islands of the group. 
(v). Assam. 
The Ahor and Miri hills. — In 1846 coal was discovered by Lieut- 
enant Dalton^ on the Durjmu river at a point north of Dibru- 
garh. He reported that the seams are from 3 to 8 inches thiclc, 
and dip slightly towards the Brahmaputra. Fragments of coal 
were also found in the beds of the Subansiri and Sundri rivers. 
1 Jour., As. Soc. Bemi., Vol. XXXIX, pt. 3, p. 2.S0 (1870). 
2 Selections from the Becurds, God. India. No. LXXVTI, pp. 127-8 (1870\ 
3 Op. cit., p. 22L 
« Me7n., G. 8. I., XXXV, pt. 1 (1911). 
5 Gal. Jour. Nat. Hist., VII, 213 (1846), 
