12 
BALL AND SIMPSON: COALFIELDS OF INDIA. 
them. In 1891 Griesbach'^ mentions the occurrence of thin seams 
of mesozoic coal, none of them more than half-an-inch thick, near 
Shinkai and Tangi in the Dobandi valle}'. 
Similar beds were also found between Drang and the La 
Khugha (Atghoki on map) pass. 
(iii). Afghan Turkistan. 
(Chahil and Shisha Alang Valleys, etc.) 
Coal seams believed to range in age from Permo-Carboniferous 
to Jurassic were found in Afghan-Turkistan by Mr. C. L. Gries- 
bach.^ 
The supposed Permo-Carboniferous coal occurs as thin beds of 
anthracitic graphitic coal in altered micaceous shales to the north 
of the village of Ak Eobat. Seams of graphitic coal are also stated 
to occur in the Koh-i-Daman. Mr. Griesbach concludes that " taking 
into consideration the report that coal-seams have been found near 
Ghazni, the inference may be drawn that the Ghazni coal, if such exists, 
belongs to the same formation as the graphite of the Koh-i-Daman 
and the anthracitic coal of the Ak Robat pass and j Saighan.^ 
In that case we may fully expect to meet with the older coal-measures, 
equivalent to our best Indian horizon (Karharbari-Talchirs) within 
easy reach of out Indian frontier." 
The Triassic* coal is well-exposed in the Chahil (Chil) valley. 
The beds consist chiefly of thick-bedded massive sandstones and 
grits and are much disturbed. Near the top of the section a few 
thin coal-seams are found. Lower down coal occurs at regular 
intervals of from 80 to 100 feet; several of these seams exceed 6 
feet in thickness. Still further down a seam of apparently excellent coal, 
10 feet thick, occurs. It is succeeded by carbonaceous shales and 
some distance below a seam of friable coal, 18 inches thick, is 
found. The thick coal-seam can be traced for a considerable 
distance up the slope of the Sabz Kotal. To the west in the 
Shisha Alang valley what is considered to be a continuation of the 
1 Rec., Geol. Surv. Ind., XXV, 70, 87 (1892). 
2 Rec, Geol. Surv. Ind., XIX, 241-9 (ISSO). 
' Probably Drummoiul's Syijhm. Tliis material has been shown by more recent 
searches to be nraphite rather than coal ami of no value as a fuel ; Mem-, Geol. Surv. 
Ind., XXXI X, )). 57 (1911). 
* Probably Jurassic rather than I'riassic, see below p. 13 
