FT. 2 .] 
W. Blanford. Coal near Chanda. 
25 
that it will yield fairly useful fuel for all purposes. The quantity of pyrites appears to 
be considerable,, but not excessive. It is interspersed throughout, and not in nodules as at 
Kumbari. It is, however, difficult to form a correct estimate of the amount from an inspec¬ 
tion of the specimens procured from so near the surface. The seam may be considered as 
highly promising. But before it can he considered as available for mining purposes, its 
thickness and quality must he ascertained to be constant throughout a considerable area. 
It is also very desirable to ascertain whether it recurs on the Chanda side of the liver. I 
regret that I am unable to throw much light upon these points. The concealment of all 
rocks near the outcrop of the coal is so great that scarcely any indications are afforded even 
of the general dip, and the few that are met with are somewhat contradictory. 
The dip of the seam itself is obscured. The angle is very low—certainly below 5°, and 
appears to be to the north-east or north, but at the same time to vary. About 200 yards up 
the river, on the same bank, a large quantity of coarse sandstone is exposed with an apparent 
general dip to the east of about 5°, but the rock is so excessively false-bedded that its real 
dip can only be guessed at. Still further up the river, towards Balarpur, there is more 
sandstone, also with an apparent low eastwardly dip ; but at Balarpur the beds are either 
horizontal or dip to the north-west. 
About 300 yards below the coal also, on the right or west bank of the river, sandstone 
is again exposed, but no trustworthy indication of a dip could be discovered. All around, on 
both sides of the river, is an alluvial plain, and I could find no trace of rock. The general 
appearances are in favor of an cast or north-east dip. The sandstone seen to the north up 
the river may underlie, and that seen down the river rest upon, the coal, but this is little 
more than a guess. If the dip be to the east the coal should be found in a shaft, or boring on 
the left or Chanda- side of the river, at a depth not exceeding 50 or 60 feet below the bottom 
of the bank. 
It is extremely desirable that an attempt should be made to find the coal by sinking or 
boring through the sandstone on the river bank below (south-west of) the outcrop on the 
Hyderabad side of the liver. His Highness the Nizam would doubtless order the necessary 
exploration if made acquainted with the facts. In sinking upon the Chanda side it is far 
from improbable that only alluvial clay may be met with to the depth mentioned. In this 
case it would be well to make deeper explorations further from the river bank, the persistency 
of the seam can, in all probability, meantime be settled by a few sinkings or borings on the 
Hyderabad side of the river. Further exploration on the Chanda side, with the exception of one 
or two shafts on the river bank, would best be deferred until this important question is decided. 
Assay yielded the following results for these coals:— 
Balarpur. 
Balarpur, 
‘ best part of seam, 
Fixed carbon ... 
51-2 
49'9 
Volatile ... ... ... ... 
39'0* 
42'4 
Ash . 
9'8 
7-7 
The existence of the seams discovered by Captain Lucie Smith renders it probable that 
i , . , „ „ others, as yet undiscovered, may exist in the neighbourhood, 
Probatde existence of other seams. , ' ,, , . , ,, . ’ 
especially as the rocks are greatly concealed by alluvium. 
The area occupied by the true coal-hearing rocks of the Damuda series does not, however, 
appear to bo very large; and owing to the superficial accumulations beneath which they 
are buried, boring must, in all probability, be resorted to in order to explore them. The 
discovery of the localities already known is clearly due, when the difficulties of the case are 
considered, to most persevering enquiries and research, and I have no doubt hut that the same 
energetic search, if farther prosecuted, w ill, as at Ckindwara, lead to further discoveries. 
Still I think it improbable that the neighbourhood of Chanda is equal in mineral wealth 
to the Bench Valley near Ckindwara. As stated above, the area occupied by the coal-hearing 
rocks appears smaller, and their thickness is less. The far greater facility of communication 
with the Railway, and the possible future demand for fuel for the navigation of the 
Godavery, Prankita and Wurda,f give a great advantage to the Chanda localities, and 
* This yielded sulphur '77, writer 4*5. All hum with a strong long-sustained ilamc and no caking, 
t The localities where coal has been found near Chanda are on the navigable portion of the Wurda, and if 
the proposed works for tlio improvement of the Uodaveri navigation be tarried out, they will bt in direct water 
communication with flic whole ot tile river. 
