76 
BALL AND SIMPSON: COALFIELDS OF INDIA. 
The Bilaspur-Katni branch of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway passes 
through the centre of the field. The exposed area of the coal- 
measures (Barakars) covers about 6 square miles, but to the north 
they dip under younger deposits, and are probably continuous with 
those in the Korar coalfield, 12 miles distant. There are 6 coal seams, 
four of which are being worked. Their thickness is as follows : — 
No. I seam 4' 6" to 5' 0". 
„ II „ ...... 4' 6" to 7' 8". 
» HI „ 8' 6" to 12' 4". 
„ IV „ 3' to 4' 6". 
The dip of the measures is slight — about 4° to N. E. — and the 
deepest £mine-shaft is only 270 feet in depth. The coal is non- 
coking and some of it is of good quality as can be seen from the 
following analysis made by Mr. T. W. H. Hughes ^ in 1884 : — 
Moisture 5*46 
Volatile matter ...... I9'71 
Fixed carbon 66*7 1 
Ash 8-12 
From the reports of the railway companies using the coal, it appears 
that the coal now being placed on the market is very much 
inferior to fuel with the above analysis. 
Washing was resorted to some years ago, but abandoned on 
account of the excessive waste of coal involved. In 1885 Mr. 
Hughes estimated that there were 55 million tons of coal available 
within a depth of 500 feet from the surface. In 1896 and 1902, 
the total quantity of workable coal actually proved by shafts and 
borings was estimated by Mr. R. J. W. Gates, ^ the manager of 
the colliery, to be 24 million tons. 
The development of the Umaria coalfield was commenced in 
1882 under the direction of T. W. H. Hughes of the Geological 
Survey of India, to whom is chiefly due the credit of the discovery 
of these valuable coalfields. From 1883, when 1,290 tons were 
raised, the output steadily rose, and in 1903 191,686 tons of coal 
were mined. In 1910 the output was 130,400 tons. In 1900, the 
1 Man., G. S. I., Vol. XXI, Alt. 3, (1885). .; 
* Annual Reports of the Hewah State Collieries. ' 
