15^ 
Records of Hie Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. x. 
The superiority of the Hansapathar rock to the lower band at Panchet Hill is therefore 
less marked, with respect to the amount of insoluble impurity it contains, than might be 
expected from its outward appearance. A large proportion of this impurity consists of 
white, translucent, silicious grains, which are not easily detected by eye in the similarly coloured 
stone. But while the Pancliet rock contains some 15 per cent, of carbonate of magnesia, 
the Hansapathar contains scarcely any, being, with the exception of the insoluble matter, 
almost pure carbonate of lime. It contains 20 per cent, more carbonate of lime than the 
Panchet stone, and less phosphoric acid. 
Hence, both for use as a flux and as a source of lime, the Hansapathar rock is markedly 
superior. But it is also well worth attention as a marble. In text ure, colour, and uniformity, 
it is, I think, equal to the average of the Bajputana marble, which is so well known from its 
employment in the Taj Mahal at Agra, and other monuments in the North-Western Pro¬ 
vinces. Many of the beds are several feet thick—some as much as six or eight; so that 
blocks of any required size could be extracted. 
By the present route, via Baghmara and Narrainpur, the distance from Hansapathar to 
Barakar is about fifteen miles, of which eleven is over a fcaeha road, and the remainder over 
a, metalled one. In a straight line, however, it is only twelve, and a direct Tcaeha road, 
easily passable by country carts, could be made at a trifling expense. 
Crystalline limestone has also been found at Bampur and Bkargora by Mr. Ball, and by 
Mr. Willson at Mohada and east of the village on the bank of the Otla naddi. These places 
are all a mile or two west of Pancbdt Hill. In none of them, however, can the rock com¬ 
pare with that of Hansapathar. The Bampur stone is the best, but even there the propor¬ 
tion ofgood stone is comparatively small. 
In addition to the two principal localities where limestone occurs, given above by Mr. Mallet, and which were 
both mentioned by me in an unpublished account of the district of Maubhum, it may be of interest to record the 
existence of some others in that district. The most important is situated on the main bounding fault of the 
coal-field, close to the village of Jarnuan, about five miles to the south-west of Raniganj and nine miles south-east 
of Assunsole. There is no specimen of this rock at present available for examination, but when seen, it was noted 
as being apparently a tolerably pure limestone. As to its abundance, that can only be determined by opening up 
the ground at the time of its discovery, but a small quantity was visible. 
In the other localities the rock is magnesian (doluuiitie), and as such unsuited for a flux, hut may prove useful 
l'or oilier purposes. One of these localities is situated on the east of the village of Ramlallpur, two miles south of 
the above given position. The other is on the faulted junction of the crystalline and sub-rqctaniotphio rocks close 
to the spot where copper ores* occur near one mile north-east of Purda, Pergunnah Manbazaar, and thirty miles 
east-south-east from Purulia.— J. Ball. 
On some forms of Blowing-Machine used by the smiths of Upper Assam, 
by F. B. Mallet, F.G.S., Geological Survey of India. 
The smelting of iron, which at one time was an important industry in Upjier Assam, 
more especially along the skirts of the Naga Hills,f has been extinct for many years. But 
although the Assamese, in that part of the province at least, have ceased to produce iron 
themselves from the ore, there is still a not inconsiderable demand for manufactured articles, 
(2 baits and spears for barter with the Nagas holding a prominent place amongst such. The 
materials used now, however, are mainly English iron and steel, which, from their cheapness 
and the convenient forms in which they are to be had, have driven the native product out 
of the market. 
As the contrivances used by the smiths of Upper Assam are essentially different from 
those met with in India proper (Peninsular India), the following descriptions may not be 
* Vide Records, 1870, p. 76. 
t Memoirs, Geological Survey of India^Vol, XII, p, 360. 
