Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. VII. 
] ] 6 
The quarries at Dehri on the Son are the most eastern of all those which have .been 
opened in the Vindhyan rocks. At present they are largely worked in connection with the 
Son irrigation and canal projects. The stone'is a compact whitish sandstone susceptible of 
artistic treatment, and, what is of more importance for the present purpose to which it is put, 
strong and durable. 
The next point of importance where there are quarries is Chunar. The vicinity of the 
Ganges has, during a period of at least 2,000 years, afforded a ready means of transport for 
the excellent building stones which are obtained from the Kaimur l'ocks at Chunar. 
The East Indian Kailway now affords an additional means of transport, but is, however, 
I believe, not very much used for the purpose, water carriage being so very much cheaper. 
Benares, and other cities and towns of less note, both in ancient and modern times, have 
largely used Chunar sandstone. The ghats at Benares, the palaces, the walls, the minarets, 
and many of the temples are built of this material. To Calcutta a certain quantity is brought 
for paving and tombstones, &c. The only stone church in Calcutta is St. John’s, which is 
built of Chunar stone. 
It has also been used to some extent in other buildings in Calcutta, but for paving pur¬ 
poses, as has elsewhere been shown, the so-called Burdwan stone has also been employed. 
The next quarries to be mentioned are those of Mirzapur, which, with those of Purtabpur 
and Seorajpur, have supplied Mirzapur and Allahabad with material for the construction of 
their buildings, both ancient and modern. The stone for the Jamna bridge was, according to 
Mr. Mallet, obtained from some quarries a few miles up the river, whence it was brought 
down in boats. 
From this the limits of the Yindhyan rocks sweep southwards in a great bay, and the 
next place where they have been worked to any large extent is in the neighbourhood of 
Gwalior, where they have been used in the construction of forts, temples, &c. It may be men¬ 
tioned too that in the exposed faces of sandstone there are carved some figures of Titanic 
dimensions. 
Although, as was remarked, the sandstones of the Kiwa group are not generally used, 
still “ in the neighbourhood of Hosungabad and also in the SCpri and Gwalior districts some 
thin red flags from £ to 1 inch thick are much used for roofing.” 
Perhaps the most important quarries in India are those in the upper Banders to the 
south of Bartpur, at Fatipur Sikri, and Kupas, which have furnished building materials since 
before the commencement of the Christian era to the cities of the adjoining plains. Por¬ 
tions of the Taj at Agra, Akber’s palace at Fatipur Sikri, the Jamma musjid at Delhi, 
and generally the grandest and the meanest buildings in Agra, Delhi, and Mutra (Mathura) 
have drawn upon these quarries for their materials. 
To quote Mr. Mallet again: “ Tire palace of the Rajah of Bartpur at Deeg, which is 
regarded as one of the most beautiful edifices in India, testifies at once to the excellence of 
the stone employed and the skill attained by the stone-cutters of that district. Cupolas 
resting on slender shafts of 2 and 3 inches diameter, arches supported on strong, yet graceful 
pillars, windows formed of single slabs of stone perforated into the most elaborate tracing, 
meet one at every turn.” 
In conclusion, it may be mentioned that the sandstones both here and at Chunar have 
been largely used for telegraph posts; the facility with which some of the varieties split 
renders it possible to obtain posts 16' long of material which will resist white ants and the 
action of the weather. 
Thus the ancient pillars of Yindhyan sandstone have been instrumental in annihilating 
time by preserving in an imperishable record fragments of the history of upwards of two 
