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D Santosh Rao Diti Sood Karan Virani Kaushik Mondal

Coal- Main energy source in India over 60% energy consumption Urgent problem to be resolved for resources investigation to prospect accurately, rapidly and efficiently for coal resources by using the latest technologies Remote sensing is one of the most efficient ways for coal prospecting Major problems with it-

- absence of any correlation in abnormal information existing in remote

sensing anomalies - lack of direct interpretation for concealed coal deposits

Coal exploration process usually involves creating a geological map of the area, then carrying out geochemical and geophysical surveys, followed by exploration drilling. This allows an accurate picture of the area to be developed. The area will only ever become a mine if it is large enough and of sufficient quality that the coal can be economically recovered. Geophysical borehole logging (determine in situ the rock type) NOTE- In coal exploration, it is necessary to identify one or more physical properties of coal bearing sequence.

Radiation logs- gamma ray , density and neutron logs Resistivity logs Density logs Temperature logs Sonic logs

- work in absence of borehole fluid and through casing - used when boreholes tend to be shallow, narrow and dry

Geophysical logging correlation of coal seams

- accurate seam depth and thickness - coal seam structure details

Remote sensing is a technology that acquires the physical parameters of the objectives through spatial sensors by receiving electromagnetic waves reflected and dispersed from objects or electromagnetic waves emitted by targets.

Theoretical Basis of coal prospecting by remote sensing

Coal bearing strata are darker in hue. Usually 5% to 30% lower in reflectance than that of adjacent strata along a standard strata profile and have a unique spectrum. The thermal emission properties of coal are distinct. The thermal inertia of coal is lower. During daytime- coal absorbs more energy, its surface temperature, emission rate and radiant temperature are higher . Hence, highest thermal anomalies During the night- Lower thermal conductivity and diffusion of coal controls its thermal radiant characteristics. It releases almost all its solar energy absorbed during the daytime before midnight, after which it emanates thermal radiation mainly from the interior of the earth crust, so that it shows lower thermal anomalies after midnight because of its lower thermal conductivity.

A combination of visible bands and thermal infrared bands will be an effective method for detecting coal prospects over exposed coal seams.
Coal bearing strata are often interbedded with - mudstone, shale and sandstone (low mechanical strength) Therefore, Vegetation is more abundant in areas of coal-bearing strata. We would predict and investigate coal deposits by analyzing regional topography vegetation growth geological characteristics.

Remote sensing for coal prospecting normally takes large areas as research targets. The objective of the research is to find regional coal basins and tectonics associated with or controlling coal seams distribution,

Coal-bearing basins and their characteristics are mainly predicted according to feature images of landscapes and vegetation cover in the areas with well developed coal bearing strata, thin overburden or vegetation cover In uncovered regions, prospective coal-bearing areas can be delineated by the direct use of low-medium resolution satellite images, followed by large-scale coalfield geological mapping wit high-resolution images and drilling. The coal-bearing structures delineated by the images are generally credible and high-resolution images can be further used to interpret and delineate concealed coal bearing basins and coal bearing synclines under the overburden of concealed areas and semi-concealed areas. Coal prospecting in thickly covered areas is mainly achieved by tectonic interpretation, discovery of new geological tectonics and new knowledge of the rules of coal controlling structures

With the development of remote sensing technology and its tight combination with new theories or methods such as geology, geography, coal petrology, digital geology, geophysics, structural geology, geomechanics and modem sedimentology, remote sensing methods for coal prospecting possess obvious advantages with good prospects of further development, compared with traditional methods. As one of the means of coal prospecting, remote sensing technology can improve the probability of coal resource discovery. Remote Sensing can also reduce some of the environmental impacts of coal exploration and mining as drilling would be done only in the narrowed down regions. It would also help analyzing the coal reserves of regions that are inaccessible otherwise due to extreme geographical conditions.

Coal Geology by Larry Thomas Prospecting for coal in China with remote sensing- JOURNAL OF CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/portal/page?_pageid=127,721708&_dad=por tal&_schema=PORTAL THE COAL RESOURCE-A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF COAL World Coal Institute Manual on drilling, sampling, and analysis of coal By American Society for Testing and Materials