66 
Records of Ike Geological Survey of India. 
[VOL. IV. 
If all endeavours to find a permanent uoal supply in this locality fail, an eventuality 
for which we must be prepared, the next chance is near Lingula. Here I consider further 
exploration in British territory as almost hopeless, the Talchirs must crop out everywhere' 
below the mouth of the Tal close to the river bank, so that the Damudas are confined, or 
nearly so, to the bed of the river and the country on the opposite side. Above the mouth 
of the Tal for some distance it is simply impossible to say what exists, for the whole 
country is covered with thick alluvium as far as Cherla, where the only rocks that are 
known to occur appear to me undoubtedly Knmtkis, and all the Damudas and Talchirs are 
overlapped. The only plan by which any good can be done is an exploration of all the 
breaks in the section exposed above the top of the Talchirs at Sangaram on the right 
bank of the river in the same manner as I have recommended near Madavaram. The dip 
varies from 10° to about 20°, and the depth to which the boring in each case must be sunk 
will be found by multiplying the length of the break by the tangent of the angle of dip. 
I am under great obligation to Mr. Yanstavern for the very thorough manner in which 
he has aided me, and for his r-eadiuess to carry out every suggestion I made. Mr. Heppel’s 
services in charge of the boreholes were invaluable; it is mainly due to his thorough 
knowledge of boring and to his hard work, in an intensely hot season and despite many 
difficulties, that so much has been accomplished in a short time. 
Calcutta, 1 
July 6th, 1871. J 
Note on the Nakbada Coal-basin, by H. B. Hedlicott, A.M., F. G.S., Deputy 
Superintendent, Geological Survey of India. 
Prom the point of view of uncertainty and of expectancy the Narbada coal-fields are 
at present the most important in India. They are the nearest known source of coal for the 
great region of North-Western India, where so many miles of railway are either open, 
under construction, or projected. Even as communications now stand, with the circuit 
through Jabalpur and Allahabad, these fields are much nearer than those of Bengal to 
the Panjab. When the rails are laid through Malwa and Gwalior the length of carriage 
will be greatly reduced. Yet less is known regarding the resources of the Narbada area 
than of almost any other. The Warda fields have been comparatively recently brought 
to notice; but their value and extent have been so well established by systematic boring 
experiments that the working of them is now oidy a question of time and convenience. Until 
similar trials are made in the Narbada fields the prospect of a supply of coal there must 
remain uncertain, the naturally exposed sections of the rocks being so very obscure. There 
is an immense area beneath which it is possible, or eveu probable, that coal exists; but its 
presence and the depth at which it must be sought are still unknown. In connection with 
this there is an interesting question of stratigraphy to he discussed, and which would be out 
of place in this brief notice of practical objects ; the more so that I believe no amount of 
discussion upon surface observations could in this case finally settle the point or remove the 
necessity for actual exploration. The occurrence of a fine outcrop of coal in a convenient 
position at the northern edge of t,ho basin, and the formation of an efficient mining estab¬ 
lishment to work it, have, no doubt, contributed with other causes, such as the want of proper 
maps, to keep in temporary abeyance the further exploration of the field; hut it is evident 
that this should no longer be deferred. My brief report of last year (liecords, Geological 
Survey, Yol. Ill, Pt. 3,) showed how much need there was for information regarding even 
the seams on the Sitarivfi (atMbhpani) ; how limited their known extension; how broken, 
crushed, and even locally destroyed they are within those small limits; how urgent it was 
