EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF SOUTH GUJARAT (TADKESHWAR) BLOCK, SURAT western part of the block these seams / horizons are

tern part of the block these seams / horizons are not developed due to basement (Trap) high.-
DISTRICT, GUJARAT 1) The Top Horizon is constituted of 1 to 5 Lignite seams in different boreholes. The effective
thickness of this horizon varies from 0.80 to 5.80m.
1 Block Location with Co-ordinates Toposheet No. : 2) The parting between Top and Middle lignite horizon is predominantly argillaceous in
Latitude : 21º17’44” to 21º22’28” nature. Thickness of this parting is observed varying between 6.80m. to 31.60m.
Longitude : 73º00’19” to 73º03’48” 3) The Middle lignite horizon is found to be developed only in the 11 boreholes. This horizon
is constituted by 1 to 4 seams in different boreholes. The effective thickness of this horizon
2 Status of exploration 6438.85 m. 22 Boreholes
varies from 0.60m. to 9.00m.
iv) Area Covered 32.5 Sq.kms.
4) The parting between middle and bottom lignite horizon is predominantly argillaceous in
v) Grid interval followed 1000 m.
nature. Thickness of this parting is varying between 8.20m to 37.60m.
vi) Depth possibilities of General depth of occurrence of Top, Middle and Bottom
5) The bottom lignite horizon has been intersected in 9 boreholes. It is observed that this
the Seam lignite horizons in the block is observed as :
horizon is very well developed in the southern part of the block where it has attained a
Lignite Horizon Depth of Occurrence (m.)
thickness of 10.40m. (MSV-21). The horizon is constituted by 1 to 4 seams in different
Top Lignite
165.00 - 298.80 borehole and its effective thickness varies from 1.00m to 10.40m.
Horizon
Middle Lignite HORIZO HORIZON EFFECTIVE
186.60 - 323.40
Horizon N THICKNESS THICKNESS
Bottom Lignite Min. Max. Min. Max.
202.80 - 345.40
Horizon
TOP 0.80 16.00 0.80 5.80
3 Area of Lignite development (Sq.Km.) 14.404 sq.km.
MIDDLE 1.00 15.00 0.60 9.00
4 Number of seams/horizons encountered, Number of seams, thickness,grade variation - BOTTOM 1.00 12.60 1.00 10.40
horizon-wise, if any
5 Gradient of Lignite seams The strike of the deposit is generally N-S with easterly swerves in
Three lignite horizons have been identified and designated as Top, Middle and Bottom horizon
the northern part.
respectively. Apart from these local seams are also found to develop in western part around
The lignite seams show a gentle gradient towards west varying from
borehole MSV-2. Lignite generally occurs as discontinuous bands in each horizon and thickness
2.5º to 4.5º.
of individual band varies from few centimeters to more than nine meter. Between two bands of
lignite in the horizon and also between two horizons the interbanding is mostly argillaceous in 6 Depth at which lignite seams/horizons occur
nature and represented by greenish grey clay. The lignite has been found to develop in northern, Details about the depth occurrence of lignite horizons.
eastern and southern area. In the western portion of the block borehole No. MSV- Maximu Depth of Occurrence (m.)
3,4,6,9,10,16,17,18 and MSV-22 have not intersected any lignite horizon. HORIZON m No. of Roof Floor
Borehole No. MSV-21 drilled in the southern part of the block has intersected cumulative lignite Bands Max. Min. Min. Max.
thickness of 16.40 m. upto 369.20m. depth. Borehole NO. MSV-2, drilled in the western part of the
165.0
block has intersected three local lignite seams having a effective cumulative thickness of 10.60m. TOP 5 298.80 172.20 302.00
0
All these three horizons are developed in the eastern half part of the block only while three local
186.6
seams are developed in the north western part (around MSV-2). It is observed that in the south MIDDLE 4 323.40 189.00 328.40
0

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 202.8 horizon in borehole MSV-12. The minimum and maximum depths of occurrence for roof
BOTTOM 4 345.80 212.40 356.40
0 and floor and thickness is given below:
Thickne
7 Type of overburden and thickness Roof (m) Floor (m)
ss (m)
A GENERAL VIEW OF OVERBURDEN STRATA
SL. NORMAL DEPTH Mini 80.00(MS 309.20(MS 26.80(M
LITHO-UNITS
No. RANGE(m)- Roof mum V-8) V-2) SV-7)

1. Black Cotton Soil 0.00 – 4.00m. Maxi 1.00(MSV- 69.60(MSV 0.40(MS

mum 12) -15) V-15)
2. Sand stone 10.00 – 40.00m Occasionally this formation contains broken shells of lamellibranches and gastropods

3. Sandy clay 1.00 – 8.00m fossils.

iv) Grey to Greenish Grey Clay : This is the most predominantly occurring in the area and
Grey Greenish Grey clay with
4. 1.00 – 78.60m forms immediate roof of the first lignite horizon. The clays are grey to greenish grey in
occasional friable sandstone.
colour, it is full of micro and mega fossils. The general faunal assemblage as could be
The is in overburden strata have been found well distributed almost in the entire area. The identified in drill cores, is lamellibranch and gastropods. At many places, in this formation
extreme variation in thickness of the overburden has been observed in the range of 165.00 (MSV- development of arenaceous bands of different thickness represented by medium grained to
1) to 335.60m. (MSV-2). fine grained friable sandstone could be observed. It occurs between 1.00m. (MSV-13) to
i) Black Cotton Soil : This formation covers entire block and generally occurs between 0.0m. 78.60m. (MSV-5) roof and 165.00m. (MSV-1) to 335.60m. (MSV-2) floor. However, the part
to 4.00m. depth range. However, the minimum and the maximum depth (floor) is observed of which constitutes overburden generally varies in thickness from 1.00m. (min.MSV-2,12)
as 1.00m. (MSV-12,13) and 11.00m. (MSV-5) respectively. The general thickness variation to 75.00m. (max. MSV-20).
is between 1.00m. to 4.00m. while the minimum and the maximum thickness has been Apart from these major formations, bands of clay stone, carbonaceous clay, and sideritic siltstone
intersected as 1.00m. (MSV-12,13) and 11.00m. (MSV-5) respectively. Black cotton soil develop in a few borelholes.
appears to have deposited in the low lying areas as a result of weathering of the trap rock
8 Depth upto which overburden extends (Min., Max. and General range)
occurring nearby and transported to the present place.
The overburden formations are a thick blanket of Black Cotton soil at the top followed by
ii) Sand stone : This formation is developed in the entire block. This formation generally
Sandstone, Sandy clay and Clay. The thickness variation in the pile of overburden is from
occurs between 10.00m. to 40.00m. (roof) and 190.00m. to 230.00m. (floor). However, the
165.00m (MSV-1) to 335.60m. (MSV-2)
extreme cases observed for floor as 81.00m. (MSV-20) and 246.80m. (MSV-8) respectively.
A GENERAL VIEW OF OVERBURDEN STRATA
Thickness of the formation generally varies between 1.00m. to 40.00m. while the minimum
and the maximum thickness have been observed as 0.60m. (MSV-14) AND 42.80M. (MSV- NORMAL DEPTH
SL. No. LITHO-UNITS
RANGE (m)- Roof
7,8) respectively. This sandstone is argillaceous in nature and rich in microfossils like
nummulites and broken shells of lamellibranches and gastropods. 1. Black Cotton Soil 0.00 – 4.00m.
iii) Sandy Clay : This is developed in entire area and it is yellow to greenish grey in colour and 2. Sand stone 10.00 – 40.00m
at places resembles with bentonite. The formation sometimes exhibits development of
3. Sandy clay 1.00 – 8.00m
kankary nodules which are probably secondary developments. As many as 15 bands of this
formation are observed in the area, (MSV-2 & MSV-12). It forms roof of the first lignite

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 Grey Greenish Grey General range of variance (%)

clay with occasional CV(K.CAL./K

4. 1.00 – 78.60m M A VM FC
friable sandstone. g.)
25 – 7.50-
9 Type of in-burden, thickness range The inburden formation consists mainly of greenish 40-45 5-15 3000-3750
32.50 22.50
within horizons (Parting) and grey clay. Ranges of constituents obtained from proximate analysis and C.V. in composite samples.
between horizons (Inter-burden) Min.,
Elemen Most Common Minimum( Maximum(
Max. and General range
t Range (%) %) %)
10 Ratio of lignite Overburden and Lignite to overburden and inburden ratio is more than Carbon 27.50 – 35.00 15.32 38.84
Lignite OB+IB, if any 1:2 in entire block Hydrog 1.75 – 2.75 1.32 2.93
en
11 The Geo-technical Properties NA
(Summary) Nitroge 0.24 – 0.36 0.16 0.44
n
12 Lignite reserves: Seam-wise, horizon-wise, grade-wise, thickness-wise, depth-wise and
Sulphur 0.00 – 0.25 0.01 0.99
ratio-wise with respective areas (Sq.Km.)
Oxygen 10.00 – 16.00 6.35 16.04
The limit of lignite development is considered as boundary for insitu geological estimation.
The minimum, maximum and most frequent range of total sulphur and its distribution
However, in places where the limit of lignite development could not be traced, a line parallel and
500m. away from the line, joining last drilled boreholes in that part of the block, was considered
Most Minimum( Maximum(
the boundary for reserve estimation, however the northern bank of Tapi river is considered the
Element Common %) %)
southern limit for purpose of reserve estimations.
Range (%)
A total of 123.087 million tonnes of reserves have been estimated in 14.404 sq.km. area with
Total Sulphur 0.00 – 1.50 0.13 4.49
average grade of 2961 K.Cak/Kg. As the lignite to overburden and inburden ratio is more than
Sulphur 60.00 – 20.86 96.15
1:2 in entire block, he reserve have not been classified under different ratio ranges.
90.00
HORIZONWISE RESERVES
Sulphate 0.00 – 5.00 0.45 36.20
AREA
HORIZON RESERVES (m.t.) Sulphur
(Sq.Km.)
TOP 1.33 30.492 Organic 0.00 – 20.00 2.38 74.08
MIDDLE 11.514 31.063 Sulphur
BOTTOM 11.071 44.981
COMBINED
14.404 123.087 ULTIMATE ANALYSIS OF COMPOSIE SAMPLES
(Top+Middle+Bottom+Locals)
Most Common
13 Category of reserves (Inferred, As the spacing of borehole is on 1000m. grid the Element Minimum Maximum
Range
Indicated, Measured) reserves are categorised under “Inferred geological
reserves”. Carbon (%) 27.50 – 35.00 15.32 38.84
Hydrogen (%) 1.75 – 2.75 1.32 2.93
14 Quality data including data about ultimate and ash analysis
Nitrogen (%) 0.24 – 0.36 0.16 0.44

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 Sulphur (%) 0.00 – 0.25 0.01 0.99 the rainfall data, month-wise and year-wise since 1981 upto 1992 is summarized in the Table:
Oxygen (%) 10.00 – 16.00 6.35 16.04 YEAR JAN FE MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

ASH ANALYSIS 1981 - - - - - 218.0 457.8 290.3 248.9 52.3 19.5 - 1286.80

Constituents Most Frequent Minimum Maximum 1982 - - - - - 14.0 363.9 147.0 101.9 15.1 61.7 - 710.7

Range (%) (%) (%) 1983 - - - - - 342.1 495.2 658.5 243.8 176.3 - - 1915.9

SiO2 15.00-40.00 15.87 64.87 1984 - - - - - 200.7 212.4 251.3 159.0 - - - 823.0

1985 - - - - - - 352.3 338.8 3.5 119.0 - - 813.6

Al2O3 10.00-20.00 7.89 35.45
1986 - - - - - 412.0 46.5 280.5 2.5 - 43.0 - 784.5
Fe2O3 10.00-25.00 2.58 34.83
1987 - - - - - 92.3 264.2 104.5 8.2 19.0 47.0 3.5 538.7
TiO2 0.00-500 1.21 27.54
1988 - - - - - 134.3 1114.0 232.8 402.5 - - - 1883.6
CaO 7.5-17.5 1.45 25.40
1989 - - - - - 180.8 537.3 182.8 37.5 - - - 938.4
MgO 150-3.00 0.46 6.14
1990 - - - - - 25.5 49.3 632.5 390.7 9.0 - - 1107.0
Na2O 1.00-2.50 0.37 4.82 1991 - - - - - 17.0 462.4 231.6 65.0 - - - 776.0

K2O 0.20-0.35 0.08 1.21 1992 - - - - - 188.0 592.0 650.0 702.0 178.0 - - 2310.0

SO3 5.00-15.00 0.64 25.61

RAINFALL : The rainfall data for the year 1981 to 1992 recorded at Mangrol is given in table –II.i.
P2O5 0.09-0.14 0.06 0.20
From this table it may be observed that the annual rainfall for the past 12 years ranges between
15 Available data about groundwater
538.7mm. to 2310mm. Rainfall statement shows wide variations in the rainfall, which does not fit
Entire area is covered with a thick blanket of black cotton soil. Black cotton soil is derived as a
into any cyclic pattern, The highest precipitation occurs normally from middle of June to
result of weathering of trap, rock subsequently transported and accumulated in the area. This soil
September last week.
mantle is underlain by Kankar and clay bed, limonitic in nature followed by fossiliferous sandstone
TEMPERATURE : Study of the temperature as recorded at Surat from available data shows the
and there after argiliaceous litho-unit which hosts lignite and is impervious in nature. The set up of
temperature as high as 45.6 degree C in summer and as low as 4.4 degree C in winter. However,
s is such that there are limited chances of accumulation of ground water in the area. However, the
the normal summer maximum temperature varies from 36 degree C to 41.5 degree C and winter
upper kankar bed wherever occurring, accumulates limited amount of ground water due to
minimum temperature from 10 degree C to 12 degree C.
percolation of the rain water for which no authentic data is available. The fossiliferous Sandstone
RELATIVE HUMIDITY : Relative humidity observed at Surat observatory (from available
which occurs as a thick column in the area is also a poor aquifer because of it’s compactness and
data) shows a value of above 60% humidity in the morning in all the months except November
agillaceous nature.
when it is marginally lower at 59%. In the evening the values are less than 50% except for the
The Tapi is the only perennial river or major surface water body in the southern part of the area.
months between May to September.
Tapi river which flows in a westerly direction in the southern part of the block is the major water
WIND DIRCTION : The wind direction is mostly from south and south-west but occasionally it also
channel. It is the main source of ground water recharge. It also receives water locally from the
flows from other directions depending upon prevailing atmospheric conditions.
nearby streams.
17 Environmental aspects: Baseline The area in general is flat with minor undulations. The
16 Meteorological data
environmental data and surface & general variation of elevation is in the range of 30m to
The climate of the area is sub-tropical. The details of rainfall, temperature and relative humidity
Ground water details/compilation 35m above M.S.L. The general slope of the area is
data available with community hall center Mangrol and Surat observations were studied. While

97
 southerly towards Tapi river which flows westerly. clastic sediments and carbonaceous matter in this
Climate of the area is subtropical. Extreme summer basin.
and winter temperatures are recorded as 45º C and 4º A study of subsurface data indicates that the strike of
C in summer and winter. The annual rainfall varies formation is north-south with easterly swerves in
from 539 mm to 2310 mm. The highest precipitation northern part. The inclination of strata is generally
occurs normally from June to September months. between 2.5º to 4.5º towards west.

18 Type of terrain: information about land-use pattern - Cultivation, forest, towns etc. and 21 Basis for block demarcation - The area investigated lies between south of
Railway lines, rivers, lakes, major/minor roads, hills and other related statutory restrictions working ratio limitation Tadkeshwar village of Mandvi taluka in Surat district
The area in general is more or less flat with some minor undulations. While the general elevation and north of Tapi River.
is in the range of 30-35m. above M.S.L, the minimum elevation of 26.72m. (MSV-13) and
22 Constrains/physical bottlenecks, if The exploration carried out in South Gujarat
maximum of 44.69m. (MSV-17) have been observed. The general slope of the area is southerly
any - Thickly/thinly populated. (Tadkeshwar) Block by MECL was on a fairly wide
towards Tapi river which is perennial flows in a westerly direction and forms the southern
spacing of 1000 metre. It is recommended that close
boundary of the block.
space drilling at 500m. grid interval may be taken up in
The Tadkeshwar village is situated on tar road which connects it with Kim in the west and Mandvi
the area of lignite development to increase the
in the east. These towns are approximately 15 km and around 45 km away respectively from
confidence level of reserves estimation.
Tadkeshwar. The district H.Q. Surat is around 50km. from the Tadkeshwar village and well
23 Remarks Sub-Committee of Coal and lignite (unit VIII of CGPB)
connected with the rest of the country by air, rail and road.
in its 32nd meeting held on 12.3.1999 at Calcutta
Kim the nearest town from the block has post, Telegraph, bank, marketing and workshop facilities.
decided to initiate regional drilling in South GUJARAT
19 Infra-structural facilities available
area. Accordingly, MECL started exploration in South
Two faults F1 and F2 are tentatively interpreted in the block. Fault F1 trending ENE-WSW has
Gujarat area. Accordingly, MECL started exploration in
been placed in between MSV-12 and MSV-8 in the northern part of the block. The fault exhibits a
South Gujarat (Tadkeshwar) block in April 1999 and
maximum throw of 70m. towards north around borehole No. MSV-12 gradually reducing
completed the entire physical work by August 2000.
westwards. The fault finally dies out near borehole NO. MSV-19. The other fault designated as
F2 is occurring in the eastern part of the block and is placed west of borehole MSV-14 and MSV-1
and east of MSV-11. This fault trending approximately north-south appears to be a sag fault
having maximum throw of 30mt towards west near MSV-11. Throw of this fault is observed to be
reducing in either directions. In southern direction the fault is dying out within the block between
borehole No.MSV-13 and MSV-5, while in the northern direction this fault appears to be gradually
dying outside the block boundary.

20 Geological features like fault, wash- Geological history of the western part of south Gujarat
outs, pinch & swell character suggests that tectonic disturbances have given rise to
Cambay basin in the early Cretaceous time and its
subsidence gave rise to thick accumulation of Tertiary

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