Coal Deposits of the Tertiary Period

The Tertiary coal deposits came into existence during the Eocene, the Oligocene, and Miocene periods. Coal of this period is found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Jammu and Kashmir states. It is also known as brown coal. Containing more moisture, it has less carbon content.

Tamil Nadu The state of Tamil Nadu has the largest deposits of lignite at Neyveli in the South Arcot district. The seams are 10 to 12 metres in thickness. Its carbon and moisture contents are 30-40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively, while the volatile matter varies between 40 to 45 per cent.

Rajasthan Lignite deposits are found in the districts of Bikaner (Palana and Khari mines). The thickness of Bikaner seams varies from 5 to 15 metres. It is of inferior quality and used mostly in the thermal power plants and railways.

Gujarat In Gujarat coal is found in Bharauch district and Kachchh. The coal is of poor quality with about 35 per cent carbon and more moisture.

Jammu and Kashmir The Tertiary coal in Kashmir is found at Raithan of the Shaliganga, Handwara, Baramulla, Riasi and Udhampur districts, and the karewas of Badgam and Srinagar. It is of inferior quality with less than 30 per cent of carbon, over 15 per cent moisture and 30 per cent volatile matter.

West Bengal In West Bengal lignite deposits of the Tertiary period are found in Burza Hills of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. Scattered deposits of lignite have also been discovered in Pondicherry.

India is the fourth largest producer of coal in the world, contributing about 5 per cent of the total coal production. An examination of Table 8.2 shows that in 1950-51 the total production of coal and lignite was 323 and 0.4 lakh tonnes which rose to 3750 and 280 lakh tonnes in 2005-06 respectively. The coal mines were nationalised in 1972, after which there had been a tremendous increase in the coal production (Table 8.2).

Table 8.2 India: Production of Coal—1950-51 to 2008-09

Year Production (in lakh tonnes)

Coal Lignite Total

Source: 1. Statistical Abstract and The Economic Survey, 2011-12.

2. India-2010, p.690.

The Talcher Series It is the series of the Gondwana Systems, named after the Talcher and Dhankenal districts of Odisha. It rests on the glaciated boulder bed of igneous rocks. It is known for its coal deposits. The coal from here is supplied to the Raurkela and Jamshedpur Steel Plants.

The Damuda Series It is the most important series of the Gondwana System. The Damuda Series is well developed in Jharkhand and West Bengal. The

Damuda series is known for good quality coal seams. The Raniganj,Jharia coal scams lie in the Damuda series. The Superior quality coal (anthracite and bituminous) is obtained from this series. The bituminous which has carbon over 60 per cent is used for metallurgy, especiallay tire iron and steel plants ofjamshedpur and Bokaro.

The Panclict Scries It is the youngest series of the Lower Gondwana System. It lies to the south of Raniganj. The series consists of greenish sandstone, shales and iron rich rocks, but is devoid of coal-seams. An outlier of this series is known as Mangli beds in the Wardha valley of Maharashtra.