MINERALS

325

sufficient to be of any economic value, exceptions to the
rule are to be found, notably in Assam and Burma.
The chief coal bearing areas of India are as
follows :—
1. The basin of the Godavari River.
2. The basin of the Sén River.
3. Orissa.
4. Assam.
5. The basin of the Narbada River.
5. Damuda.
7. Rajmahal.
Thus it will appear that the whole coal bearing
area (which may be
reckoned at about
30,000 square miles)
lies more or less in
the central districts of
the peninsula, and
chiefly in the Central
Provinces. Throughout
 this extent of possible
 field for coal
mining there are
scattered about a
dozen collieries, a
number which may be
largely increased when railway communication is further
developed. Although the provinces of Madras have been
searched diligently, and there have arisen many reports
of coal discoveries, and much correspondence has resulted
 therefrom, the net result may be expressed as
correspondence only. There are no important workable
seams in Madras. In Haidarabad one colliery (the
Singareni) has risen to importance. This is situated in
the Godavari basin to the east of Haidarabad, and is
associated with the same group of rocks (Kamthis,
Talchirs, &amp;c.) as predominate in connection with all the
coalfields in the peninsular area. The Singareni mines
produce about 1000 tons per diem. The Orissa province

Als