DISTIBUTION OF COAL DEPOSITS IN INDIA :

LOWER GONDWANA COALFIELDS : a) Peninsular India

State

Coalfields

Localities

West Bengal

Damodhar Valley

Raniganj

Bihar &
Jharkand

Damodhar Valley

Jharia, Chandrapura, Bokaro, Ramgarh,

Karanpura, Auranga, Hutar, Daltonganj
Kundit, Kuraih, Sahajuri, Jainti, Giridih, Chope,
Itkori
Hula, Jilbari, Brahmani, Panchwari

Deoghar &
Hazaribagh
Rajmahal Hill
MP &
Chattisgarh

Son Valley
Chattisgarh
Satpura

Singrauli, Korar, Umaria, Johila, Suhagpur

Tatapani, Ramkola, Jilmili, Jhagrakand,
Chirimiri, Bishrampur, Koreagarh, Bansar,
Raighar etc
Pathakhera, Dulhara, Sshahpur, Sonada,
Mohpani , Pench, Kanhan, upper Tawa valley

Maharastra

Kamthi, Umrer
Wardha valley

Nagpur
Majri, Rajura, chandrapur, Ballarshah, Bandar

Orissa

Mahanadi

Ib valley, Talchir

Andhra
Pradesh

Pranhita
Godavari

Singareni command area from Yellandu to

Allapalli

UP

Singrauli

Borders of UP & MP

b) Eastern
Himalay zone

West Bengal
Rangit valley

Darjeeling
Sikkim

COALFIELDS
OF TERTIARY

Western Assam
South Assam

Garo Hills, Kariabari, Rongrenggriri,

Daranggiri, Mikhir hills etc

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF INDIAN COAL FIELDS :

Indias major workable coal deposits occur in two distint stratigraphic horizons
known as Gondwana coals and Tertiary coals. The Gondwana coals which
comprises nearly 99% of coal resources and balance Tertiary coals constribute
1% coal resources.
There are over 70 coalfields in India ranging in areal extent from a few Square
Km to several hundred Sq. Km. The main coalfieds of India belong to the lower
Gondwana period . Thick seams abound Indian Coalfields; some seams attain
thickness of upto 44m; an exceptionally thick seam of 162 m thick is found in
Singrauli coalfields. The seams occur in quick succesion, the parting at places
being very thin; all are generally banded, the bands being a few mm to
several cms in thickness.
The thicker seams have more bands. Most
Gondwana coals from any field are rich in durain(Dull hard component of coal
with a greyish black colour) often upto 60-70%.All the seams give a
comparatively high % of ash. Normal values of ash ranges from 10-30%. All
these seams are prone for spontaneous heating.
Tertiary coals are characterised by high moisture, low ash( 2-7%) and high
sulphur content( 2-7%).
Indian coalfields of present a variety of geological structures anticlines,
synclines etc and have both large and small faults. Some coalfields such as
Jharia have igneous intrusions, dykes etc
Gradients vary from a few degrees to almost vertical. Uniaxial Compressive
2

The compresive strengh of sanstones varies from 212-933 kg/cm2 (

at right angles to the bedding planes).
Indian total resources in seams 0.5m thick and more andupto a
depth of 1200m are estimated at 298 Billion Tonnes.Out of these
41.2 % are in the proved category. Aorund 28% are amenable for
Opencast and rest 72% are amenable for Underground mining.
Some special properties of coal
seams :
1. Proneness for spontaneous
heating.
2. Proneness for bumps
3. Gas bearing capacity of seams
4. Strength of coal
5. Flammability or Explosibility index
of coal

Factors influencing choice of Mining methods :

As explained above, coal seams have varying thicknesses, dips, and
structures and occur at different depths. It follows, therefore , that a
method of mining proved successful in one set of conditions cannot be
applied for a mining a seam in different set of conditions. Hence it is prerequisite to make a correct choice of the method of mining for success.
The factors which influence the choice of mining methods are the
following :
(A)PHYSICAL FACTORS : (i) Thickness of the seam (ii) Depth of the seam
(iii) Gradient of the seam (iv) Shape of the deposit (v) Structure and
geological abnormalities. (vi) Gassiness and proneness to
spontaneous heating ( vii) Chacterstics of the roof and floor and (viii)
Hydro geological conditions.
(B)TECHNICAL FACTORS : (i) Availability of Technological development
and availability of machines (ii) Suitability of machines/equipment for
the existing geo mining conditions (iii) Capacity of the machines.
(C)ECONOMIC FACTORS : (i) Grade and selling price of coal (ii) cost of
production (iii) Total capital investment involved and return on
investment.

PROBLEMS IN EXISTING UNDERGROUND COAL MINES :

1. The existing mine openings are insufficient size and are

not equipped properly to permit increase in production.
2. The mines have become more extensive than orginally
planning for Ventilation and transport arrangements are ,
usually, insufficient and inefficient.
3. Good quality of coal seams of comfortable thickness at
shallower depths have already expploited. This resulted
in thin or inferior seams or inferior portions of thickseams
being left unworked above working seams or working
portions of thick seams.
4. Existence of surface structures on the surface
necessiating stowing of galleries and there is acute
shortage of stowing material and also restrict production
capacity.
5. Huge reserves in underground blocked in pillars due to
non availability of stowing material .
6. In some of the coalfields such as Jharia Raniganj ,
existence of virgin seams at higher depths,possibility of
approach of lower seams through old dangerous
workings, fire and gas proneness.