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A Proposal of Open Pit Coal Mine at the Northern Part of Barapukuria Coalfield,
Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Article · March 2014

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)

A Proposal of Open Pit Coal Mine at the Northern Part of

Barapukuria Coalfield, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
Chowdhury Quamruzzaman1, Md. Abdul Matin Mondol2, Mohammad Tofayal Ahmed3, S. M. Mainul Kabir4,
Zubair Ahmed4.
1
Professor, 4Lecturer, Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
2
Deputy Manager, Geophysical Division, BAPEX, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Jessore Science and Technology university, Jessore,
Bangladesh
5
Student, Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Abstract— The Barapukuria Coalfield is only production Seam-VI is the main mineable bed with thickness
coalfield in Bangladesh with coal deposit area of ranging from 29.4 to 41.00m and 36.41m on average,
approximately 6.25 km2. Geologically, the coal basin is a belonging to the regular and extra thick coal seam of the
singular syncline in which coal occurs at shallower depth at
the northern part and deeper depth at the central part. The
coalfield.
Barapukuria coal mine started commercial production of coal
by early 2005 with an annual target of 1 million ton per year
for 25 years mine life only from the central part of the coal
field. But, the coal mine is facing water in rush, land
subsidence, roof collapse, methane emission etc. So, the
production has stopped several times and it could not achieve
annual production target. On the other hand, coal is existed at
a shallow depth on the northern part of the field remain
untouched because of underground mine design. The present
study suggests extracting the coal from the northern part of
the Barapukuria coal field by open pit mining method as well
as an adequate mine design.

Keywords— Coalfield, Underground mine, Open pit mine,

Syncline.

I. INTRODUCTION
The Barapukuria coalfield was discovered by the
Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) in 1985 in the
drill hole GDH-38, which encountered coal seams at a
depth of 159 m. The coal reserve found in the Barapukuria
is 303 million tons (Wardell Armstrong, 1991). In addition
to that about 86 million tons is considered as inferred
reserve. The Coalfield is situated within the Barapukuria
village of under Parbatipur Thana, Dinajpur district, at a
distance of about 50 km southeast of Dinajpur town
(Figure-1).
The coalfield has a proved area of about 5.25 sq km. In
addition, the field is suggested to have possible extension
Figure -1: Location Map of the Barapukuria Coalfield.
for 1 to 1.5 sq km area to the south (Wardell Armstrong,
1991). The coalfield contains coal-bearing seams of 7 The Barapukuria coal mine started commercial
groups in 11 seams with total thickness of 74.14 m. production of coal by early 2005 by underground mining
method only from the central part of the coal field.

482
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)
Annual production target of the mine is 1 million ton per III. COAL RESEVE IN BARAPUKURIA COALFIELD
year for 25 years mine life. In this study we would like to The Barapukuria coal deposit has a proved area of
propose an open pit mine at the northern part of the basin. approximately 5.25 km2 with an unproved possible
extension area to the south of approximately 1 to 150 km2.
II. GEOLOGY OF THE BARAPUKURIA COAL FIELD The total demonstrated coal reserve in the Barapukuria
The sedimentary rocks of Gondwana Group, Dupi Tila coalfield is 303 million tons (Wardell Armstrong 1991).
Formation, Barind Clay Residuum, and Alluvium of the This demonstrated reserve is based on the coal contained in
Permian, Pliocene, Pleistocene and Recent ages seams II, IV and VI, which are more consistent and
respectively were encountered in the boreholes, which lie important. In addition to that about 86 million tons is
on the Pre-cambrian Basement Complex. A large gap in considered as inferred reserve. This inferred reserve is
sedimentary record is present in between Gondwana Group based on the coal contained in irregular and inconsistent
and Dupi Tila Formation, which are most probably seams I, III and V. Note that out of the 303 million tons
happened due to the erosional or non-depositional phase demonstrated coal reserve, 271 million tones i.e. about 90%
exit during Triassic to Pliocene age. The stratigraphic of the total demonstrated reserve is contained in seam VI
succession in the Barapukuria basin is given in Table- 1. (Table-2).
TABLE-1 TABLE-2
STRATIGRAPHIC SUCCESSION OF THE BARAPUKURIA BASIN. COAL RESERVE IN BARAPUKURIA COALFIELD (SOURCE: WARDELL
ARMSTRONG 1991)
M Thi
Form em ckn
Age Group Lithology
ation be ess, Coal Average Reserve (million tons)
r m sea Nature thickness
1.83 m ,m Demonstrate Inferre
Holocen

Alluviu

d d
m

Silty clay
Irregular,
e

I Discontinuou 4.6 - 1
s and limited
Residuu
Pleistoce

Barind

10.3
Clay

Clay and sandy clay 6 Relatively

II 8.2 14 -
Consistent
ne

Irregular,
Dupi Tila

Sandstone, pebbly III Discontinuou 2.0 - 4

Pliocene

Upper

126.
sandstone and s and limited
82
clay/mudstone
Relatively
IV 18 18 -
Consistent
Sandstone, claystone
Lower

and mudstone with Discontinuou

silica and white clay V 4.1 - 17
s and limited
Feldspathic VI Consistent 36 271 64
sandstone,
Total coal reserve 303 86
Gondwana

carbonaccous 457.
Permian

sandstone and shale, 32

ferruginous IV. COAL RECOVERY BY OPEN PIT MINING METHOD
sandstone,
conglomertes, and Open-pit mining is a method of mining wherein metal
coal beds. ores, coal and other minerals are mined from the earth
14.3 surface. The totality of workings called open pit and has an
Complex
Basemen
Precamb

Diorite, granodiorite, 2 open contour in the cross section. By open pit mining
rian

quartzdiorite, granite,
t

method, it is possible to extract 90-95% of total reserve and

and diorite gneiss
easy to operate the whole mining operation. The factors
favoring open pit mining method are as follows:

483
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)
A. It will be comparatively easy to manage the
groundwater of the Dupitila aquifer overlying the coal
deposits in the Barapukuria mine area by open pit mining
method rather than underground mining method. For
instance, dewatering operations on a very large scale
simultaneous mining operation is an well established
technique and are being widely practiced in mines with
similar hydrological condition in Germany (Rheinbraun
lignite mines of Rheinish district) and India (NLC mines).
The adversity of pumping out of such large quantities of
water may be profitably utilized pit-head power station and
irrigation in the mine area. This has been practiced in
Rajmahal open cast mines in India and Rheinsh lignite
district of Germany (CMPDI, 1991).
B. The Barapukuria coal reserve has an average stripping
ratio of 6:1 in m3/t, which is favorable for open pit mining.
Figure-2: Open pit mine operation phases of Barapukuria coal field.
This stripping ratio is similar to the German lignite mines
and is being mined up to a depth 450m at an average The mine depth may ranges from 110 to 236 m. For the
stripping ratio of 6:1. Since, the coal quality of the convenience, of mine operation, hydrogeological modeling
Barapukuria coal field is very high, so open pit mine will the mine operation can be divided in six phases (Figure-2).
be more beneficial. Each phase should have five years duration of operation.
C. It would be possible under open pit mining to So, it will need 30 years to complete full extraction of coal.
ultimately extract more than 90% of the entire deposits up A. Phase-1(0-5 years):
to the depth of 450m. This would amount to about 290
million ton. An underground mine, on the other hand, For mining operational convenience, the Phase-1 should
contemplates extracting 30 to 64 million tons of coal from be onset from the western side of the area. The surface and
only the thickest seam VI. floor area of Phase-1 quarry is 966982 sq. m. and 264781
sq. m. respectively (Figur-3). In this area, the depth of coal
D. Underground coal mine lives with potential danger of seam top varies from 80 to 100 m. So, it will need 14
accident by water flood, roof collapse, methane gas benches (Figure-4) to reach the bottom of coal. The amount
explosion and spontaneous combustion. With no of overburden may be removed is 65.16 million cubic
underground coal mining experience in the past, managing meter and the amount of extractable coal is 12.38 million
a major underground accident will be difficult for tones. The calculated stripping ratio for the Phase-1 quarry
Bangladeshi personnel. Potential mine hazard would be is 7.45:1.
minimum in open cast mining.
E. Hard rock and white clay would be extracting without
any additional effort for mining, in addition to coal.

V. BARAPUKURIA NORTH OPEN PIT MINE DESIGN

In the northern part of Barapukuria coal field 1.837 sq
km area is feasible for open pit coal mine.

Figure-3: Birds eye view of Phase-1.

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)

Figure-4: Cross sectional view of Phase-1 along A1A2 Figure-6: Cross sectional view of Phase-2 along B1B2

B. Phase-2(6-10 years): C. Phase-3 (11-15 years):

Phase-2 quarry development may be start after partial
reclamation of Phase-1. So, it will need less effort for the
development of Phase-2. The surface and floor area of
Phase-2 quarry is 1506105 sq. m. and 310193 sq. m.
respectively (Figure-5). In this area coal may found in
deeper than Phase-1. A cross section of Phase-2 is shown in
Figure-6. The amount of overburden may be removed is
68.11 million cubic meter and the amount of extractable
coal is 14.50 million tones. So, the stripping ratio for the
Phase-2 quarry is 6.51:1.
Phase-3 quarry development may be start after partial
reclamation of Phase-2. The surface and floor area of
Phase-3 quarry is 1879378 sq. m. and 309659 sq. m.
respectively (Figure-7). A cross section of Phase-3 is
shown in Figure-8. The amount of overburden may be
removed is 68.00 million cubic meter and the amount of
extractable coal is 14.47 million tones. So, the stripping
ratio for the Phase-3 quarry is 6.50:1.

Figure-7: Birds eye view of Phase-3.

Figure-5: Birds eye view of Phase-2.

485
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)

Figure-8: Cross sectional view of Phase-3 along C1C2
D. Phase-4 (16-20 years):
Phase-4 quarry development may be start after partial
reclamation of Phase-3.
Figure-10: Cross sectional view of Phase-4 along D1D2
E. Phase-5 (21-25 years):
Phase-5 quarry development may be start after partial
reclamation of Phase-4. The surface and floor area of
Phase-5 quarry is 2209506 sq. m. and 340793 sq. m.
respectively (Figure-11). Maximum and minimum depth of
Phase-4 quarry is 230 and 100 m respectively. A cross
section of Phase-5 is shown in Figure-12. The amount of
overburden may be removed is 74.83 million cubic meter
and the amount of extractable coal is 15.93 million tones.
So, the stripping ratio for the Phase-5 quarry is 6.51:1.

Figure-9: Birds eye view of Phase-4.

The surface and floor area of Phase-4 quarry is 2046174

sq. m. and 295515 sq. m. respectively (Figure-4.24. A cross
section of Phase-4 is shown in Figure-10. The amount of
overburden may be removed is 64.89 million cubic meter
and the amount of extractable coal is 13.81 million tones.
So, the stripping ratio for the Phase-4 quarry is 6.51:1
Figure-11: Birds eye view of Phase-5.

486
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)

Figure-12: Cross sectional view of Phase-5 along E1E2 Figure-14: Cross sectional view of Phase-6 along F1F2

F. Phase-6 (26-30 years): G. Overall Mine Design:

This is the last Phase of mining operation. Phase-6 A design is proposed for the Barapukuria open pit
quarry development may be start after partial reclamation coalmine (Figure-15) by considering bench face, Berm
of Phase-5. The surface and floor area of Phase-6 quarry is width, Bench face angle. Here we consider bench height of
2188874 sq. m. and 316312 sq. m. respectively (Figure-13). 10 m, berm width of 8 m and bench face angle of 45
A cross section of Phase-6 is shown in Figure-14. The degree.
amount of overburden may be removed is 69.64 million
cubic meter and the amount of extractable coal is 14.8
million tones. So, the stripping ratio for the Phase-6 quarry
is 6.51:1.

Figure-15: Birds eye view of Barapukuria open pit coal mine.

In this design we use 45 degree for overall and bench

face angles. At the final design this angle should be fixed
by analyzing slope stability of the pit. The bench face
Figure-13: Birds eye view of Phase-6.
angles should be determined according to the geotechnical
study of the formations. Ground water is another important
factor to impact on the stability of the pit walls.

487
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, March 2014)
VI. CONCLUSION
Production of Barapukuria underground coal mine work
has to be suspended several times due to water in rush in
the mine, land subsidence, roof collapse, methane emission
etc, so due to that it could not be able to fulfill the coal
demand in Bangladesh. If we develop an open pit coal at
the northern part of the field, it may increase the production
target and reduces the energy crisis of Bangladesh. Average
value of stripping ratio of the mine field is 6.5:1. The value
indicates that the Northern part of Barapukuria coalfield is
highly favorable for open pit mining. About 85.89 million
tons of coal is recoverable from seam-VI by open pit
mining method. At a production rate of 2.85 million tons of
coal per year, the mine will survive for 30 years.
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Chowdhury,M.A., Mannan, K.H. and Anam, A.N.M.H., 1996,
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Bangladesh. Records of Geological Survey of Bangladesh, vol.8 part
1p36.
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