Geography · Ch 13 — Mineral and Energy Resources
Coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed from the remains of ancient vegetation. Its importance in India stems from two primary uses: generating thermal power (electricity) and smelting iron ore in the steel industry.
Geologically, coal in India occurs in rock sequences of two main ages: Gondwana and Tertiary. About 80 per cent of India's coal deposits are of the bituminous type and are of non-coking grade — meaning they are suitable for power generation but not for making coke needed in steel production.
Gondwana Coal Fields
The most important Gondwana coal fields are located in the Damodar Valley, which forms the Jharkhand-Bengal coal belt. The key fields here, in order of size, are:
- Jharia — the largest coal field in India
- Raniganj — the second largest
- Bokaro, Giridih, Karanpura
Other river valleys associated with Gondwana coal are the Godavari, Mahanadi, and Sone valleys.
The most important coal mining centres in this category are:
| State | Mining Centre(s) |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh / Uttar Pradesh | Singrauli (part lies in each state) |
| Chhattisgarh | Korba |
| Odisha | Talcher, Rampur |
| Maharashtra | Chanda–Wardha, Kamptee, Bander |
| Telangana | Singareni |
| Andhra Pradesh | Pandur |
Tertiary Coal Fields
Tertiary coals occur in the northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir. They are younger in age and generally have lower carbon content than Gondwana coals.
- Meghalaya: Darangiri, Cherrapunji, Mewlong, Langrin
- Upper Assam: Makum, Jaipur, Nazira
- Arunachal Pradesh: Namchik–Namphuk
- Jammu and Kashmir: Kalakot …