64 
Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
[vol. VI. 
an angle of 45°, was estimated to have a thickness, on the flanks of the Kjj Nag range, of 
about one and a half miles. The dip in this case also was (obliquely) towards the adjacent 
older rocks. 
Besides the tertiary conglomerates previously described, there is another very extensive 
group of more recent age, the pebbles in which are largely composed of limestone'; it is very 
well developed about Rawul Pindi, and spreads unconformably over great tracts of the 
country, alternating with drab or pale pink or red or purple brick-clays, and frequently as¬ 
sociated with calcareous tufa or calcareous conglomeratic solid massive beds called by the 
natives ‘ Koonjoor.' The basal part of this group in immediate contact with the tertiary 
sandstones is often formed of strong beds of calcareous tufa or travertin. 
These conglomerate and clay rocks are at present considered lacustrine, or formed by 
wandering river action; and their boundaries, if shown upon the maps, will be extremely 
intricate, as they are often cut through by the nullahs exposing the rocks beneath. 
The superficial covering of the country is largely derived from the clays of this 
group; and where clays, shales, and such soft rocks abound, there is no lack of material to 
form a frequently thick deposit, the result of atmospheric action. 
Skinuggub, T A. B. WYNNE. 
Cashmere , May 25th, 1873. J 
Coal in India, by Theo. W. H. Hughes, c. e., f. g. s., Associate, Royal School of 
Mines. 
I trust it will not be uninteresting to the readers of the Records of the Geological 
Survey to have placed before them a few brief remarks which will tend to widen the scope 
of their knowledge with respect to our Indian coal-fields, and enable them, when the subject 
of coal is discussed, to uphold the claim which India enjoys to rauk amongst the great coal¬ 
bearing areas of the world. It will doubtless surprise many to learn that both in the 
superficial extent of its coal measures and associated rocks, and in the actual amount of its 
coal, India is surpassed by few countries; and that with respect to the size of some of its 
seams it stands pre-eminent in the literature of mining. 
Even that land of monstrosities and natural wonders, the United States of America, can 
exhibit nothing to compare with the gigantic seams of the, Hengir and Damuda coal-fields, 
some of which are one hundred and sixty, one hundred and twenty, and a hundred feet thick. 
These figures of course do not imply that there is this amount of pure coal; the term seam is 
used in its technical sense, as embracing the whole sum of coal and partings in a given bed. 
Until within the last few years the information regarding our coal-fields was scanty 
and imperfect; but of late, the action of Government and the labours of the Geological 
Survey have been more in accord with the requirements of the country ; and the result is 
that, although our data are still far from being complete, yet we can form an approximate 
estimate (which may be accepted as a nucleus for future computations) of the area of our pro¬ 
bable coal supplies, their geographical position, and the quality of fuel which they can yield. 
And in the first place with regard to our probable coal supplies, it becomes more and 
more important, in the face of the steadily increasing price of English coal, to enquire 
whether India will be able to furnish the fuel so essential to the further develop¬ 
ment of those industries which the energies of Englishmen have in some instances 
created and in other cases fostered to a maturer growth. In answer to this question, around 
which centres the chief interest in this article, I think it will be sufficient if the reader 
glance at the subjoined table of areas to feel satisfied on this point. 
