158 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. x. 
Note.— The 31 samples of coal furnished by the five great coal proprietors in the Kaniganj coal-field, 
namely, the Bengal Coal Company, the Kaniganj Coal Association, the Equitable Coal Company, the New Birbhum 
Coal Company, and Messrs. Apcar and Co., represent fairly the quality of fuel which can be supplied from our 
oldest and most extensively worked coal-field. 
The large quantity of ash is the feature that characterises our Indian coals, and to this circumstance is due 
their diminished vitality as contrasted with English coals. The proportion of oxygen, too, is a disadvantage, 
reducing the calorific power of the fuel; but I do not perceive that, as compared with the average of British 
coals, those of the Kaniganj field show unfavourably. As regards sulphur, the Indian coals are on the whole more 
free from it than the English, the mean of— 
37 Welsh samples being 
8 Derbyshire „ „ 
28 Lancashire „ ,, 
17 Newcastle „ „ 
8 Scotch „ „ 
l' 42 ', 
1-01 | 
1-42 y Playfair and De la Beche’s 
•941 investigations. 
The excessive amount of ash is the chief defect of the coals raised in the Raniganj field, and I think it vain 
to expect that any deeper workings will effect any improvement in this respect. 
A point of some interest, but which, unfortunately, the foregoing analyses bear upon but slightly, is the relative 
values of the coals from tho upper and the lower measures. Out of all the samples there are only two from the 
lower measures—No. 11, Dumakiinda pit coal, owned by the Bengal Coal Company, and No. 23, Beuodakatta quarry 
coal, belonging to Messrs. Apcar and Co. The accident of distribution has rendered the beds of tho upper measures 
most accessible, and it is amongst them that the greatest number of collieries have been opened out; hence there is 
a large preponderance of samples of the upper coals. The Dumakiinda and Beuodakatta coals both appear to bo of 
high heating powor, and their theoretical fuel-value expressed in heat-units is as compared with carbon as 
follows:— 
Carbon . 8080° (Centigrade.) 
Dfimaktinda .-.. 7040° 
Bdnddakatta . 7023° 
In none of the coals of the upper measures does the calorific power when theoretically calculated exceed that 
of these two samples; and though the above figures may not be accepted as tho true gauge of the practical working 
value of these coals, I think they tend to show that tho hods of the lower measures are worthy of attention. 
Tho ultimate analysis of these two coals indicates a higher percentage of carbon than in any others, and a less 
amount under the head of oxygen and nitrogen, both of which are important oircnmstances in their favour. 
1 have heard practical men express very conflicting opinions about both of theso coals: each one was, probably, 
speaking according to his conviction; hut with tho evidence of tho analyses before me, I am inclined to ask 
whether those who condemned the coals saw them fired under suitable conditions. 
Of gas-coals, tho best known is Sanktoria, which yields about 9,000 cubic feet per ton; the seam varies in quality 
along its strike, at Belrui there being a less percentage of permanent gases in the volatile matter than at 
Sanktoria. The analyses of these two samples from the .same scam show for HAnktoria coal 23-4 per cent, of total 
volatile matter, and for Belrui 29 per cent, yet Sanktoria coal yields more cubic feet of gas per ton I draw 
attention to this circumstance in order to illustrate the fact that comparisons between the total amounts of volatile 
matter arc no guide to the relative gas-producing merits of coals. 
T. W. H. HUGHES. 
DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. 
(April to June 1877.) 
Two pieces of the Sitathali Meteorite of 4th March 1875. 
Weight, 1228 and 717 grains, presented by 
H. Read, Esq., 
Deputy Commr., Raipur , 
(.through V. Ball, Esq.) 
