JAYANTA GHOSH

2013MC0103

COAL RESOURCES OF INDIA

 Coal occurs in two stratigraphic horizons in India.
→ Permian sediments (290 Ma) mostly deposited in Intracratonic
Gondwana basins.
→ Early Tertiary (60 Ma) near-shore peri-cratonic basins and shelves.

 GONDWANA COAL:
→ Occurrence: Eastern and central part of Peninsular India.
→ Rank: Bituminous to sub-bituminous.
→ Character: Moderate to high in Ash and Low in Sulphur.
→ Coal Bearing Strata: RANIGANJ/KAMTHI FORMATION (Late Permian)
BARAKAR FORMATION (Early Permian)
ARHARBARI FORMATION (Early Permian)

 TERTIARY COAL:
→ Occurrence: North-eastern India.
→ Rank: Meta to Ortholignitous.
→ Character: High in Sulphur; strongly coking to non-coking.
→ Coal Bearing Strata:
Oligocene sediments – Tilak Parbat Formation in Upper Assam,
Nagaland and Arunachal Predesh
Eocene sediments – Tura Sandstone, Lakadong sandstone in
Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghlaya; Sylhet Limestone in Mikir
hills of Assam; Lower Subathu Group in Jammu.

 LIGNITE:
→ Occurrence: Western and Southern India.
→ Character: High in moisture and Volatile matter.

 The Neyveli lignite field of Tamil Nadu (Miocene) is the largest lignite
deposit of South India.