98 
Ball and SIMPSON: COALFIELDS OF INDIA. 
The lowest or King seam is the only one being worked, but 
part of the thick coal seam is considered to be workable. The 
following analyses have been published : — 
Thick coal. King scam. 
Moisture ? 7-60 
Volatile matter 34-50 25-25 
Fixed carbon 52-50 5G-50 
Ash 13-00 10-65 
The coal from the King seam is a dull, hard, non-coking steam- 
coal, considered to be about 15 per cent, inferior to the best Bengal 
coal. It contains little pyrites, but is liable to oxidation, causing 
it to split up and take fire spontaneously on exposure to the air. 
The coalfield was discovered ^ and described by Dr. King, 
who found the only known outcrop of coal within the area. Borings 
were subsequently put down, and in 1886 the working of the coal 
was commenced under the direction of T. W. H. Hughes. In 1887, 
Mr. Hughes ^ reported that 156 million tons was a moderate esti- 
mate of the amount of coal in the thick coal and King seam., 
whilst Dr. Saise ^ in 1894 considered that there was a total 
quantity of 45 million tons within the King seam alone. The 
mines are owned by the Hyderabad (Deccan) Company, who hold 
a monopoly of the coal and minerals over an extensive tract of 
country. In the earlier stages of development 75 per cent, of the 
coal was extracted, small pillars being considered sufficient for the 
support of the strong sandstones overlying the seam. A wide- 
spread subsidence which occurred in 1903, seriously curtailing the 
output of coal, has proved the unsoundness of the judgment then 
exercised. Up till 1894 the coal was brought to the surface through 
inclines driven down from the outcrop, but since that time shafts 
have been largely employed ; the deepest was sunk in 1904 and is 
750 feet in depth. The mechanical equipment of the colheries is 
of modern description and includes coal-picking belts, compressed 
air and electrical pumping and hauhng plant, and ventilating fans. 
The surface and pit bottoms are lighted by electricity and com- 
munication by telephone is provided. By the construction of a 
dam in 1898 a large water supply was assured, the quantity pre- 
viously available being precarious. 
1 King : Bee, O. S. I., Vol. V, pt. 2, p. 65, (1872). 
2 Hughes : Report to the Director, Hyderabad (Decr.an) Co. 
3 Re:-., G. S. I., Vol. XXVII, p. 03, (1894). 
