CHAPTER - 3

GEOLOGY OF THE EASTERN

COALFIELDS OF RANIGANJ, WEST
BENGAL
____________
GEDLDGY DF THE RANIGANJ CDALBELT
3.1. INTRODUCTION

Most of the coalfields of India have a number of coalseams. For example, jharia coalfield has
more than twenty five workable coal seams, the Raniganj coalfields has seven main coal horizons
in the Barakar coal measures and nine in the Raniganj coal measures and some thirty coal seams
have been traced in Bokaro coalfields. These seams occur in quick succession, the parting at
places being very thin; all are generally banded the bands being from a few millimeters to
several centimeters in thickness. The thicker seams have as a rule, more bands. Balls or nodules
and rounded fragments of coal are not uncommon. Pyritic intrusions are also very common. The
roof and floor of the seams are sandstone or shale. Fireclay as a rule is absent; if present, it is
overclay. The strata consist mainly of sandstones and shales, there being various types of
gradation into one another, e.g. sandy shale, shaly sandstone, etc. The percentage of sandstone in
the strata is usually high (especially in the Raniganj coal measures) and may reach 88% in certain
localities. In West Bengal, Eastern Coalfields of Raniganj or Raniganj Coalfields is the most
important coalfield. This coalfield is the easternmost of the Damodar Valley Coalfields. The
coalfields lie mostly in the West Bengal and partly (western portion) in Bihar. It is situated about
185 km north-west of Calcutta. The field is named after the town Raniganj which is situated in the
south-eastern part of this field. The coalfield is surrounded by the Archean rocks on all sides
except in the east. Coal bearing Gondwana strata lie beneath the alluvium cover. Recent drilling
operations have proved the extension of coal bearing strata towards east below the alluvium
cover, even up to 87°22'E. The sedimentary rock formation of Raniganj coalfields belong mainly
to the Gondwana system excepting the recent and sub recent laterites and alluvial. The
Gondwana strata that now consists the Raniganj Coalfields have been subjected to a phase of
relatively steady period as it evidenced by the unbroken sequence of sediments of freshwater or
estuarine type extending over a very long period of time from late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic
period. The present tract of Gondwana, now included in the Raniganj Coalfields has been
preserved due to the fact that contemporaneously they had been faulted down with Archeans
landmass and thus were protected from forces of erosion.

Basically coal occurs in two stratigraphic horizons in India.!.Permian sediments mostly deposited in
Intra-Cratonic Gondwana basins. 2. Early Tertiary near-shore Peri-Cratonic basins and shelves.
Raniganj Coalfields is from the first group.

According to Gee (1932. P 21), the succession in this coalfield is as follows;

Recent and Sub recent............alluvial and lateritic deposits

• Upper Gondwanas.................supra-Panchets (of Panchet hill etc)

20
 « Lower Gondwanas................. 1. Panchet series 2. Damuda (Raniganj Measures,
Ironstone Shales and Barakar measures) 3. Talchir series (Large Unconformity,
mainly Archeans)

The coal seams of the Raniganj Coalbelts fall into two well marked groups,

I. The measures into a lower (Barakar) and

II. An upper (Raniganj) series.

I. Barakar coal

• Four petrologically distinct transitional zones are recognized in the metamorphosed

Barakar coal seams (Permian)-natural coke, coked coal, affected coal, and unaffected
coal. Distance from the contact to the unaffected coal is similar to the thickness of the
sill.
• A\etamorphism obliterated the volatile-rich organic layers, destroying the banding and
forming vacuoles. Inorganic matter, principally apatite and calcite, was introduced
from the sills.
• A relatively low percentage of moisture ranging from 2% to 6% (According to GSI).
• A comparatively low percentage of volatiles ranging from 18% to 35% (According to
GSI).
• A high portion of fixed carbon ranging from 85% to 90% (According to GSI).
• Ash 15 % - 30% (excluding dirt bands)
• The better quality coals excellent steam coal and exhibit the form of a hard
metallurgical coke.
• Coke type D to Ge or better.

II. Raniganj coal

• Most of the coal in the Raniganj Coalbelts is deposited in the Gondwana period.
• Different depositional strata, coal thickness, quality of coal have been occurred by
different geological formation according to geological era, rock type, and the study
between coal fire and geology.
• Coal seams thinner than those of Barakar.
• Coal deposition can be found properly without geological structure.
• A relatively high proportion of moisture ranging from 3% to 10%.
• In the better quality steams, the percentage of volatiles is high, ranging from 29% to
38%.
• Most of the better quality coals are excellent gas-coals and free-burning steam.

The Bankura and Raniganj measures correlated closely on the following aspects; (Fig 3.1.)

i) The sequence and vertical intervals between the seams;

21 12°) 6 3
 Cumulative coal thickness
RRK-3
(42.27m) and development of
thicker seams(9.77m)

189.73

280 53

0.54
3 76
6 01 Akkiur\
3 86
822 32= RnMRjnkr Lr^V»
Ftngi| Famton * Qrtwri
BrwMmf® l>3 Bwcty,.
9.77
l 6 86 BrMFcjmui L-.' ] FaJt Deeper level
LfcfwFurratai

mm ar-r mr
TO 1070 80

Fig 3.1. Geological Map Of Ranigani Coalfield

f AccordingTo Geological Survey Off India)

3A
 ii) The lithological character, thickness, and consequences of the strata intervening between
the seams;

iii) The thickness of the seams and

iv) The character of the seams external character of the coal, chemical composition, presence
of shale or stone bands.

The outcrops of the Raniganj measures are hidden by lateritic and alluvium in the eastern end of
the Coalbelts. East of the Barakar River, the succession is well exposed and most of the softer and
shales and coal seams are hidden. East and Asansol laterite soil and alluvium prevail over wide
tract.

Over the greater part of the field, the dip of the bed is in a southerly direction. The oldest beds
of the Talchtr series are therefore exposed along the northern boundary of the coalfields lying
unconfirmbly over the metamorphic. Successively younger Gondwana formations are met with
towards the south, the Raniganj measures and Panchef beds covering wide areas in the southern
half of the field. The magnitude of the order is of 2750m (9000 feet). The throw of the fault is at
maximum near Panchet hill which probably decreases considerably in the east. The Barakar
measures have fourteen coal seams of 4ft thickness and above. These are mostly inferior quality
of coal with low moisture excepting a few. The structure of the Raniganj Coalfields is structurally
simple. The general dip of the coal bearing Raniganj and Barakar measures is low (about 5°) to
moderate (rarely exceeding 10°) towards south to southwest except in an occasional phenomena.
The dip of the southern part of the Coalfields is quite high (20° to 25°) and rolling of sedimentary
beds are observed at many place. The specific heat of the coal here ranges from .25 to .40
depending on the rank and quality. The specific gravity of coal here ranges from 1.25 to 1.80
depending on the quality of mineral matter in coal and it is soluble in Pyridine.

The Raniganj Coalbelts belongs to the Damodar valley coalfields in the Gondwana system. It
comprises sedimentary rock formation excepting the Recent and sub recent alluvial and lateritic
deposited. These sediments all belong to the Lower Gondwana. This sedimentary succession is
complicated by the presence of crystalline metamorphic and intrusive rocks. They are present two
phases of igneous activity resulting in the intrusion of the numerous mica- peridotite and dolerite
dykes and sills, which intersects the lower Gondwana sediments.

The area that forms the Raniganj Coalbelts at present was originally a small basin near the
Panchet hill. Its northern boundary has remained more or less undistributed, indicating the natural
pattern of sediment deposition in it. The general inclination of the strata is to the south and
southwest direction. The middle portion of the coalbelts is traversed by faults. The major oblique
fault follows the course of the Ajoy River, and has a downthrown to the northeast. The major
disturbances in the Raniganj Coalbelts are the results of tectonic displacements of the normal type
resulting from the accommodation of tensional stress. Local folding is one of the reasons for its
disturbances. Whereas minor faulting has occurred in the early Gondwana times the major crustal
disturbances occurred during the Jurassic times.

22
3.2. GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE STUDY AREA

Regarding the geology, structural features and economic resources of the Raniganj Coalfields
much data are available through the Blanford(1 861), Oldham(l 860,1861), Cottar{1917),
Simpson and Ball (1922), Bradshaw and Sahni (1925), Fox (1928,1931 a,b;1934), Gee
(1928,1930,1932), Dutt et al(1950) and Mehta (1948,1956). On the basis of micro-floral
assemblage, the correlation of some of the coalseams of the Raniganj measures has been
attempted by Mukherjee (1942), Sen (1944) and Ghosh and Sen (1948). The first attempt to
examine the Raniganj coals in transmitted light was made by Lomax (Caldwell 1927-28). Hr
described very broadly the micro-constituents of the Bottom Seam of Victoria colliery, Barakar
measure. Later, detail work on petrology of the Indian coal was carried by Ganju (1955b), a
portion of which includes the petrological account of a few Raniganj coals from the Barakar and
Raniganj measures. The earliest attempts for mining of coal in India were made in this area by
S.G. Heatly and J. Summer in 1774. D.H. Williams (1850) of geological survey of the East Indian
Company carried out the first geological survey of this coalfield in 1845-46. Blanord and W.L.
Wilson (1861) surveyed the field again in the year 1958 - 60. It was resurveyed in detail by
E.R. Gee and others in the first part of 20th Century. In the 1951 - 52, a revision survey of the
Raniganj coalbelts was carried out by D.R.S. Mehta and others. The central Fuel Research Institute
(CFRI) has been carrying out systematic surveys about important coal seams in the area.

On 4th March 1851, the day the doyen of Indian Geology, Sir Thomas Oldham landed in
Calcutta though it was only in 1 856 that the Geological Survey of India was established as a
regular Government Department. Oldham was the guiding force of geological research. After
formation, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been engaged in a programme of exploratory
drilling and mineral exploration in this area. S.G. Heatty and J. summer first opened a colliery in
Raniganj in the year 1775. In 1815 Mr. Rupert Jones wrote a paper about the geology of mines
in the Raniganj coalbelt. Reverend R. Everest gives a striking description about the coalseams in
context of geology. The Raniganj coalbelt is again briefly referred to by De La Beehe in his
Geological Manual, 1 883. Little information was available regarding the geology of the area
from the report of Coal Committee that was set up in 1 838. Since 1 956, the Geological Survey
of India (GSI) has been engaged in a programme of exploratory drilling in parts of the coalbelt
to prove the extension of coalseams at younger formation. Some exploratory research was also
conducted to study the existence of methane and voids of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
(Saha at al.) Results of a gravity survey conducted over Raniganj Coalfields, one of the
Gondwana basins of Damodar Valley in north-eastern part of India, are presented.

The gravity field was separated into regional and residual components. The residual Bouguer
anomaly map shows that the coalfields is characterized by a gravity low of about—32 mGal
associated with Gondwana sediments. The deepest part of basin is found to be located near
Asansol (23° 40’N, 86° 55'E), where the maximum thickness of sediments is estimated to be about
1.3miles (2.08km). The faults along the northern as well as the southern boundaries are found to
be normal. The Gondwana sediments appear to continue eastward beneath alluvium and laterite
of Bengal basin as far as 87° 25'E.

23
3.3. GEOLOGY OF THE AREA

The Eastern Coalfields of Raniganj, lies within latitude 23°33'N and 23°50'N & 86°36'E -
87°20'E but recent drilling operations have formed the extension of coal bearing sterile forwards
bellow the alluvium corner, even upto 87°22'E the sedimentary rock formation of the Raniganj
coalbelt belong mainly to the Gondwana system excepting the recent and sub-recent laterites
and alluvials. The statigraphical sequence of the sedimentary beds of this coalfield is given in
table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Gondwana succession in the Raniaani Coalfields

Formation Description Maximum

Thickness

Supra Panchet Red and gray sandstone shales 300

Panchet Micaceous yellow and gray sandstones, red and greenish shales 600

Raniganj Gray and greenish soft telspathic sandstones, shales and coal seams 1050

Ironstone shales Dark carbonaceous shales with ironstone bands 360

Barakar Course and medium gray and white sandstones 630

Talcher with Course sandstones above are greenish shales and sandy shales 300
bouldered the below
base

Swrce; Krishnan, 1966

The Gondwana strata that new constituted the Raniganj coalbelt have been subjected to a phase
of relatively steady subsidence, as it evidenced by the unbroken sequence of sediments of
freshwater estuarine type extending over a very long period (epoch) of time from late Paleozoic
to early Mesozoic period. The present tract of the Gondwana now included in the Raniganj
Coalfields, has been presented due to the fact the contemporaneously they had been faulted
down with Archean landmass and thus where protected from forces of erosion.

Over the greater part of the field, the dip of the bed is in a southerly direction. The oldest bed of
Talchir series are therefore exposed along the northern boundary of the coalfields lying
unconfirmbly over the metamorphics. Successively younger Gondwana formations are met with
towards the south, the Raniganj measures and Panchet beds covering over wide areas in the
southern half of the field. The southern boundary of the coalfields, in contrast to the north
represented by a well defined fault of immense magnitude, of the order of 2750m (9000ft). The
throw of the fault is at maximum near Panchet hill which probably decreases considerably in the
east. The major portion of the field particularly ihe western part forms a broad synclinal basin
pitching eastwards, the extreme eastern part of the field forming a homoclinal. The southern

24
boundary which understandably consists of a series of enechelon strike faults and a number of
minor anticlinal and synclinal structures become evident close to It. Geological map of the study
area (Fig 3.2.) shows the parts where seven formations are there. These are the metamorphic
rocks, Panchet, Supra-Panchets, alluvium, Talchir Series, Raniganj Series and Ironstone shales. The
map shows that maximum part of the study area is made by Raniganj measures and ironstone
shales.

3.3.1. Igneous IntTmives:-

Igneous Intrusive In this field are of two types. One is of Mica-Periodite or Lampro-Phyric type of
ultra basic nature and other being of dolerites of normal basic type. The well known Salma dyke
Is a thick chlorite dyke (lOto SOM) cutting the field across in almost N.N.W. to S.S.E direction in
central region of coalfields. Both the Intrusives are not older that lower Jurassic and follow the
faulting causing the displacements of the strata. The Intrusives particularly Mica-Periodite have
damage the coalseam and converted them to Jhama (baked coal) in the region of where they
have occurred in close assertions in the coalseam. The basic and ultra-basic igneous intrusive
influence the strata and coalseams in the Raniganj coalbelt and also the other associated
Damodar Valley coalfields. According to Dr. Blanford there are two groups among intrusive
rocks; the Mica-Peridotites and dolerites. Mica-Peridotites are the ultra basic intrusions of Mica-
Peridotitic type are met in Raniganj coalbelt. They occur as well-marked vertical dyke intrusions.
The coalseams formed through widespread Mica-Peridotites intrusions within the lower Damuda
rocks of the Raniganj coalbelt. The main Ajoy river strike fault is very significant because intrusions
had taken place to the displacement along the line of the Ajoy river fault.

The complex dyke and sill intrusion occur on a less widespread scale, in the strata of the Ranigan|
measures. There are:

i. The lower Raniganj coal measures of the Sanctoria, Sudikanyapur, Jamuria and Majiara
areas;

il. The middle Raniganj coal measures of the Siarsol area, to the north of the Raniganj;

iii. The lower Raniganj coal measures of the Majiara - Rana - Sripur areas.

Vertical Mica-Peridotites dyke intrusions transgress directly across a line of faulting. The ultra-
basic intrusives show considerable variation due to mode of occurrence. These variations are: 1.
Differences in the mineralogical composition of the intrusions at the time of injection and varying
degrees of watering. 2. Ultra-basic intrusive have the damaging effects on the coalseams by
arising the temperature because of their composition. 3. There are no mineralogical changes in
case of sandstone and quartzites, because these are hardened rock. 4. Thermal effects of
intrusive rocks are very significant. In case of the larger, more regular dyke intrusive, the seam
has been caked and from a natural coke is termed as jhama. Thus affected by these ultra basic
dykes and sills natural caked coal turns into ‘natural coke’, jhama and ‘burnt coal' which is
extremely hard and very compact, in Damuda valley coalfields. The doleritic or basaltic types
are a number of very regular vertical, and occasionally inclined, dyke intrusions, of 150feet in

25
 S7“is'E_
2.a°sV/\j

Y'
t.'.i.'. As As •,'. <A* A As1
>.'..*;• .•;• .*.* .*.* .• f\',\ *,S A*- >A
■>.\y.y y^»[Link]*.V£*.y A
/AA'

v ^ •.■• •.•--.•■•.'• •.■• •.'• •.'■ V-As AsAs As - Tv -aAs A'.AsAs­

J
S I /
av ',v *'< aV aV aV ;.v ''.v v’aV a'/as* ■• “V > V '■ ,■ •. V'^
V v • V >,
t • J\ \ i
*© Kr*

•!uk M M ** M

9fe* 4o'E

Fig 3.2 . Geological Map Of The Study Area.

Eastern Coalfields off Ranigani. West Bengal

3B
thickness. These rocks occur in the Lower Gondwana strata and continue into the Archaean
metamorphic. These rocks have a definite trend among the outcropping sedimentary and
metamorphic strata and unweathered and vary from black to dark grey. Dykes are of relatively
coarse crystalline texture and medium to fine grains is observed. These limited occurrence and
regular habit of dolerite rocks have slight detrimental effect on the coalseams and present no
greater obstacles to mining in the Eastern Coalfields. The basic or ultra basic type of intrusive
rocks in the Raniganj coalbelt are injected of dykes and sills in the lower Gondwana strata which
were deeply beneath Supra-Panchet and higher Gondwana beds, most probably it is an age not
older than Lower Jurassic.

A number of small Mica-Peridotites dykes have been observed at the surface interesting the
Raniganj beds.

The strata have been divided Into different stages:

i. Absent
ii. Semalya - sandstone and shales
Hi. Kendra - Purushottampur coal measures.
iv. Upper coal measures of the Jharia - Konardihi area.
v. Do

3.3.2, Raniganj Measure:-

The rocks of the Raniganj measures which content the Dishergarh seam need to be discussed. The
outcrop of the Raniganj measures which is best developed in the coalfields comprises a total area
of [Link]. (Over 300sqmile) and continues for east as 87°22'EL The vast extend of this
exposure is due in part to the relatively great thickness of the bed (of the order of 1000m-
1100m) and also because of their inclination at gentle angles. The width of the Raniganj measures
in the western part of the northern limit is about 6-7Km, gradually increasing towards east where
the strata flatten to wide out to about 15Km. Raniganj measures form a synclinal basin pitching
eastward. In the areas south of Damodar River, the southern limb of the syncline was expected to
exist and recent detailed deep drilling in the area has proved the continuity of all the important
coal horizons from the northern limb.

The southern limb in this area has been truncated by the boundary fault, bringing the Ranigan|
measures, Panchets and Supra-Panchets in contact with the metamorphic, South of the boundary
fault. Panchet in this region overlies the Raniganj measures in the central axial region (Asansol-
Santa- Surajnagar area) and near the boundary faults of Panchet, Gourangi and Biharinath hills.

Raniganj measures are fully developed lying between the Ironstone shales in the north and the
Panchet in the south, in the region north and east of the Damodar River. The lower Raniganj
measures (including the Disergarh seam) truncated by the boundary fault, south of the Damodar
river crop out from north west of Panchet hill and follows a N-35°E direction upto Deoli cross fault.
The dip in this area is in general towards the SE. In Puapur region the gradient is high (25°-35°)

26
whereas it flatten towards northern area around Saltore to about 10°-15°. Over the lower
measure, the middle and higher Raniganj rocks are exposed over wide areas.

From east of Deoli cross fault near the junction of Damodar and the Barakar river the outcrop of
the lower measure and the Dishergarh seams takes a ENE directions and continues eastward for
about 18Km, where it is cut across by the Salma dyke. This is taken as the eastern limit of western
sectors of Raniganj measures. This region of the northern limb of the basin, dips in general
towards south with a usual gradient of 8°'l 2°.

In Parbelia-Nituria- Bhamwaria area the uppermost beds forms a shallow synclinal basin pitching
eastward which further east overlain by the Panchets. This is cut across by the Deoli cross faults in
the southern limbs in between Nituria syncline and the Panchet-Gourangi Hills in the southwest and
the south. There occurs an anticlinal structure (Sarbari- Santhalmontha- Murulia) which has been cut
by a fault system, probably a bunching of Deoli fault, at the axial region so that the southern
flange dips SW and southwards and the beds are probably continuing down below the Panchet
hills. In the eastern part of the southern limb in the region between Gourangi and Biharinath, there
is a flat dome like structure, the northern limb of which posses down the Panchets of central region
and southern limb built against the boundary fault.

Of the important structural dislocations of the western sector of the most important one is Deoli
fault system. It runs in a NW-SE direction and lies between Ranipur and Saltore. It has thrown
down the northern side by 150m — 200m and it is not a single dislocation but a composite one.
The other peculiarity of this fault system is that the head of the fault is rather high being of the
order of 45° which is rather uncommon in these coalfields. There are some other major and many
minor faults in the sector. There seems to be a big cross fault in the region of the south of poradih
(23°35'30"N, 81 °53'25"E) and north of Mohanpur (23°34'30"N, 86°53'E) and the area of
the south of the fault has been thrown up.

Recent drilling operations in the region have indicated the presence of this fault which has resulted
in the Ironstone. Shales being exposed in the southern part of the triangular patch between this
fault and the boundary fault. The geological structure of the area is comparatively complex. The
coal deposition of the Raniganj coalbelt developed mainly in the series under the Gondwana
system. In geological time scale, the Raniganj coalbelt comes through different groups such as:

1. The lower Gondwana which in turn consists of Talchir formation; Barakar formation; Barren
measures or Ironstone formation; Raniganj formation; and Panchet formation.
2. Upper Gondwana group which the Supra - Panchet formation only;
3. Post — Gondwana that include igneous intrusive and
4. Recent and Quaternary age consists superficial cover deposits mainly alluvium and
lateritic soils.

Metamorphic rocks of the Archean age are exposed to the north, west and south of the coalfields.
Talchir is exposed along the northern edge of the eastern part of the region and the Damuda
comprises the Bankura, Ironstone Shales, Raniganj measures, Panchet and Supra Panchet.

27
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF TALCHER C F

SCALE

SHALLOW LEVEL

LjOuarternan deposits
[Link]
LJkamthl Formation
i—warren Measures
rrjBarakar Formation
cqkarharbarl Formation
nlalchlr Formation
njlctpmorphlcs

Fig 33. Geological Map Of Talcher CF (Shallow Level).

RaniganiCoalfield (AccordingTo Geological Survey Of India)

3C
GEOLOGICAL MAP OF TALCHER C F
I v fry.

SCALE

[_jOuartcrnan (kr>o>ll»
■I atcrllc
l__lKamthl Formation
i—iBarrcn Measures
oBarakar Formation
□Karharbarl Formation
nl alchlr Formation
tnXtctpmnrphlo

Fig 34 . Geological Map Off Talcher CF (Deeper Level) .

Ranigani Coalfield (AccordingTo Geological Survey Of India)

3D
Several coalseams are found in the Raniganj and Barakar measures of this field. There are
twenty three seams measuring over 1.2meters in thickness; of these eleven are located in the
Raniganj and twelve in the Barakar measures. The coal from the seams of the Raniganj measures
are usually having high moisture, high volatile and of non-coking type suitable as stream coal.
Different people are at different times gave individual estimates of the quantities of coking coal
available from the Raniganj coalbelt. [Link] (1932) surveyed in details about the reserves of
coal of different quality in the Raniganj coalbelt at about 6,041 million tons and 8819million tons
down to a depth of 305metres and 610meters respectively. Again, D.R.S. Mehta (1956)
estimated the reserves of coal based on detailed survey at 7576million tons and 1 3288million
tons down to a depth of 305metres and 610metres respectively. Lower Gondwanas include four
series such as Talchir, Panchet, Supra Panchet and Damuda which includes again Barakar,
Ironstone Shale and Raniganj stages. Fig3.3. is showing Geological Map of Talchir Series of the
Study Area, Eastern Coalfields.

The series are discussed below.

• The Talchir series-The Talchir beds are found in the most of the Lower Gondwana is
overlain by shales and sandstones (Krishnan, 1966). The Talchirs show considerable
variation in thickness within the Raniganj coalbelt (Fig 3.4.). All the beds are well
represented along the northern boundary in the western and middle part gradually
die out fairly to the east, where they are overlapped by the lower Barakar Sediment.
Talchir series covers limited parts of the Raniganj coalbelt little. It comprises greenish
and brownish sandstones and shales in the lower part and micaceous and felspathic
sandstones and shales in the upper part.

• The Panchet series-The Panchet series is a large extent hidden by alluvium in the
middle, southern and eastern portions of the Raniganj coalbelt, overlying the bearing
Damuda. In the middle portions of the coalbelt this series is represented by a basal
zone — the Lower Panchets of brown — green and yellow — brown sediments and the
Upper Panchets — of soft, yellow, grey micaceous sandstones and red clays. The lower
portion of the series is 300 to 400feet in thickness, the whole series along the southern
boundary, is 2000 feet thick. According to Dr. Blanford the Raniganj Panchet
boundary is unconfirmable. The lower portion of the Panchet Series is 250- 300ft thick,
and developed mainly to the Nunia nala in northeast of Asansol. It is an open synclinal
to the north of the Damodar River. The lithology of Lower Panchet is thick brown-
green, silty shales and greenish- brown mudstones. Limestone is the main rock in the
Lower Panchet Series. The Upper Panchet is a thick series of alternating sandstones
and red clays and white clays are intercalated. The sandstones of the Upper Panchet
are softer and more micaceous and are usually yellow or grey in color, of a medium
texture.

• The Supra Panchet-The Supra Panchet is a series of coarse pebbly sandstones with
underlying clays of dark red color. In lithology it includes yellow—grey to red, ferruginous,
felspathic sandstones. The Panchet and Biharinath hills from the junction between Supra

28
 Panchet and Upper Panchets strata. Supra Panchet strata may be correlated with the
Dubrajpur beds of the Rajmahal hills, indicating a probable Rhaetic age. The total
thickness of these Supra-Panchet strata in both hill exposures is at least 1 000 to 1 200ft.

• Damuda- Damuda series consists of three formations - Barakar, Ironstone Shale and
Raniganj. Barakar stage — the main outcrop of the Barakar stage in the Raniganj coalbelt
covers an irregular track across in northern half. The Barakar stage is a massive formation
of sandstone, conglomerates with occasional beds of shales. It is entirely barren of
workable coalseams. The formation consists mainly of carbonaceous shale with clay
ironstone. The Raniganj stage shows it maximum development among the Gondwana
strata in the Raniganj coalbelt itself. It consists of fine sandstones, coarse grits being
absent. Carbonaceous shales are also met with and coalseams are extensively developed.

Table [Link] reserves of the Raniaani region

Kinds of coal/ million 300 metres depth 600metres depth

tons

Coking (grade 1 and 288 548

better)

Non-Coking (grade 1 and 2759 4838

better)

Non-Coking (other) 4949 8432

Total 7996 13818

Coal still in ground 7456 13807

Source: Memoirs. Geoloaical Survey of India (zooa)

3.3.3. Laterite and associated deposits

Wide tracts of lateritic rock overlie the northeastern parts of the Raniganj and Durgapur strata.
This laterite deposition is composed of numerous quartz grains, and these quartzose laterites pass
into lateritic conglomerates, and lateritic gravels. Different types of lateritic deposits have been
found, according to the principal lithological characters of these lateritic types and of the sandy
gravel beds. These are True laterite, Quartzose laterite, Lateritic gravels and conglomerates.
Some other inclusions are gritty ferruginous, sandstone, clay ironstone together with lateritic
deposition occur in the Raniganj coalbelt. Fossil wood is also associated with lateritic deposits.
Lateritic occurrences, mainly Quartzose gravels are found in the Panchet and Raniganj beds of the
north and south of the Damodar River.
 3.3.4. Alluvial deposits

Large areas of the eastern and southeastern parts of the Raniganj Coalfields are covered by
alluvium deposits mainly of the Gangetic plain. With alluvium deposits, local deposits of gravels
and calcareous material are also found along the main rivers. There are three types of alluvial
deposits. These are:

i. Gangetic Alluvium — Due to erosion the thick deposits of Gangetic alluvium are laid
down to the south and east. They comprise the main areas of cultivable land in the
coalbelt. The alluvium includes lateritic patches from the rock of the locality.

ii» Old river alluvium - Patches of gravel with sand present high flood level of the rivers
Barakar and Damodar. Among the deposits, a hardened calcareous rock forms the
rock of the locality.

iti. Recent river alluvium - The larger rivers and streams deposited fine sand on the
surface of the area. The three main rivers, the Damodar, the Barakar and the Ajay
deposited the region with loose sediments which attain a very considerable thickness.

3.4. GENERAL STRUCTURE

In general, the geological structure of the Raniganj coalbelt is comparatively of a simple type.
The dip of the beds is in a southerly direction. The Talchirs are exposed on the northern boundary
and newer Gondwana horizons, and are traversed from north to south. The boundary of the
basal Gondwana and the metamorphic is a line of natural deposition, normally unconformable
and irregular and at subsequent strata, further complicated by faulting (Gee, 1 932).

Over the greater part of the northern side, the Gondwana boundary is one of the original
depositional, modified the course by erosion. The oldest beds are to be found in the north and
are overlapped by younger bases in a southward direction. Besides the boundary faults there
are also oblique and cross faults in the region. The main dislocation probably took place in the
Jurassic time. The region is traversed by many dolerite and Mica-Peridolite dykes, which have
caused much damage to coal resources. The intrusive occurred later than the faults and may be of
Rajmahal or Deccan trap age. The southern boundary of the basin is faulted with a series on en
echelon faults, which are collectively known as the ‘Main Boundary Fault’; while the northern
contact is uncomfortable. The southern boundary is represented by a well defined fault of an
immense downthrow to the north, at least 9000feet in the vicinity of Panchet hill. In the extreme
southeast of the region, the communication of this Main Boundary Fault is largely hidden by
alluvial. The Raniganj coalbelt is intruded greatly by dolerite and Mica-Peridotites dykes and sills
of igneous origin. The peridotites dykes often pass laterally into sills and are very destructive to
coal. The dolerite occurs in thick dykes only and is not so destructive. The present tract of
Gondwanas in the Raniganj coalbelt represents a small portion of Gondwana sediments, which
has been faulted down within the Archaean period. The main complex boundary fault with
Gondwana rocks deposited largely exists in the major portion of the Raniganj coalbelt south of
the Ajoy River. The northern boundary, one of natural deposition affected by strike or oblique-

30
fault representing the uneven Archaean land surface in early Gondwana times, which has been
complicated by a number of cross faults. The main southern boundary fault is a single unbroken
displacement and a large strike fault running en echelon (the main boundary fault). South of the
Damodar River, a second main boundary fault, called the Panchet hill-jemua dislocation. On the
northern part of the Raniganj coalbelt, the large oblique strike fault of the Ajoy River, had
affected the preservation of the Trans-Ajoy strip of Damuda sediments.

3.5. DETAILED GEOLOGY OF THE RANIGANJ COAt BEIT

The name Gondwana was introduced by [Link] in 1872. It is derived from the ‘Gonds’, a
great and ancient tribe who still inhabit the central parts of India. The Gondwana group rocks are
of fluviatile nature and were deposited in a series of large river or lakes basins which later sank
along through - faults amidst the ancient rocks. In context of India the preservation of Gondwana
strata with their rich coalseams have been situated along the fault line. Gondwana rocks are
mainly developed in areas of:

a. The east coast of peninsular

b. The Godavari valley to the Rajmahal hills; and

c. The Sone, Narmada, and the Damodar valleys.

3.5.1. Drift nature of coal

The Gondwana era was initiated by a glacial climate during which a vast continental ice sheet
covered a large part of Gondwana land. In all the Gondwana coalfields of India the available
evidence points to the fact that vegetation had traveled some distance before being deposited
ultimately to form coal. In no case has any upright tree been found in the coal seams nor are
there tree roots extending into the under clay. It is true that stems are found but they generally lie
more or less flat on the top of the coalseams. Most of them are solidified except the cortical
portion which has been carbonized. Owing to pressure the seams have generally been crushed to
an elliptical section and they indicate that they have drifted from the place where that originally
grew. The nature of the coalseams is indicative of their ‘draft' origin.

The Gondwana group of basins occurs along the three major directions: (a) Son-Narmada and
Damodar-Koel Valley, running East-West, (b) Son-Mahanadi Valley, with a NW-SE trend, and
(c) Rewa-Pranhita-Godavari Valley, which trends in a NNW-SSE direction. The important
common structural imprints in most of the above basins are: (i) a ‘half-graben’ basin geometry
with a strong master boundary fault on one side and a homoclinal tilt of the basin towards it; (ii) a
network of intra-basinal faults, one set oriented along the basin axis and which formed during the
tensional stage and another, (iii) transverse to it. Basin marginal oblique faults and slips coincide
with both the tensional and compressional stages and have different manifestations.
Syndepositional subsidence of the basin floor through loss of support from below due to the
lateral transport of sub-crustal/mantle materials caused faulting at the axial zones of the
basins/sub-basins to accommodate a thick pile of sediments.

31
Volcanic activities in the region or in adjacent areas provide further support for these inferred
processes, and are confined within comparatively narrow and linear zones defined by the crustal
weaknesses of considerable antiquity. All these stages have their signatures imprinted in the
sediments.

3.5.2. Structure of the Gondwana

The Gondwana rocks occupy tectonic through along with faulted boundaries. These are arranged
along linear zones. This has the effect of producing a dip of the strata towards the faulted side
with the greater throw. Thus in Gondwana belt of the Damodar Valley, the faults run east and
west and the strata dip towards the more faulted southern boundary. The major through faults
form the boundaries of the various coalfields generally, there are also numerous other faults
which cut across the strata. In almost all coalfields one side of the through is much shallower than
the other and may even be unaffected by faulting. In parts of the Raniganj Coalfields the
northern boundary shows the strata in an undistributed condition of original deposition without
any faulting, while the southern side has a throw estimated at 2750metres. The chief direction of
faulting is east - west to southwest. The age of the faulting in the Damodar valley and in some
cases post - Mahadeva. Within the Raniganj coalbelt, of the Gondwana sequence the Barakar
and Raniganj formations contain all the coalseams in this coalfields. There are altogether eight
regional coalseams in Barakar Formation whereas the Raniganj Formation contains ten regional
coalseams. Besides there are several local coalseams and split sections of the major coalseams in
both the formations. The Barakar seams range from 1m-30m in thickness, while the Raniganj
seams vary in thickness and occurrence nearer the surface, the Barakar seams are mostly mined
by opencast methods in the western and northern parts. Underground mines are however more
common within the Raniganj Formation in the eastern part. In Raniganj coalbelt, Barakar and
Raniganj Formation is coal bearing. The coal deposition of the Raniganj coalbelt developed in
series under Gondwana system mainly. These are Barakar series, Raniganj series, and the Panchet
series.

The Indian coal Grading Board classified coal of the Raniganj such a way:

I. Coking coal of superior quality (selected grade and grade I) - Sanctoria and Dishergarh seam
in Raniganj measures.

II. Non-coking coal of superior quality (selected grade and grade I) - Ramnagar, Laihdih,
Begonia coalseam in the barakar measure.

III. Coal of inferior quality (below grade I) - Gourangdih- Churulia and trans- Ajoy Kasta areas.

32
Table 3.3-The Raniqanj measures (classification Into stages)

Stage Deilya- Dishergarh- Asansol— Tapasr- Sonepur- Semalya-

Nituria area Asansol Sakpur- Andal area Purushottamp
Raniganj area ur- Jhanjra
area

V Hirakun Bharat chak Uttardhadka- Andal- Dakshin

sandstones Kumarpur Satkukhuriya Khanda sandstone
(300ft) sandstones sandstones, and shales with thin
(300-350 ft) Kotaldlhl and coal seams (thinking
shales with coal to 600 ft In the east)
seams (850 ft)

IV Nituria coal Chinakuri- Kalipahari- Mangalpur- Kajora- Upper coal

measures Fatehpur Siarsol coal Jambad- Sunkerpur measures of
Bansarkdih measures coal measures the Jharla
(700 ft)
coal Konardih
(250 - 350 ft) (250-300 ft)
measures
(400 ft)

III Hijuli Seetalpur- Majlara- Rana- Toposi- Kenda Kendra

sandstones Aldihi- Shripur coal Chora Sonpur coal Purushottampu
with thin coal Manoharbhal measures measures (1 200 ft In r coal
seams coal the west)(900 ft In measures
(800-900 ft)
measures the east)
(1150 ft)
(1250 ft)

II Deoil coal Sltarampur Barabonl- Dhasala- Dahuka Sarnia

measures coal Shibpur- coal measures sandstones
measures Damodarpur- (thinking to 175 ft in and shales
(400 ft)
(1400-1450 Sekpur coal the east) (about 150ft)
ft) measures(500
ft)

1 Amdhaura Ethora Domahanl- Hi|algara- absent

sandstones sandstones Taltor (1600 ft) Chinchurla
(700ft) (650 - 700 sandstones (thinking
ft) to 376 ft in the east)

Source; Gee, 1932

Coalseams in the Raniganj stage are, from below upwards- Taltor; Sanctoria-Poniati; Hatnal-
Koithi; Dishergarh-Samla; Bara Dhemo-Raghunathbati-Manoharbhal—Rana-Poriarpur-Satgram -
Jotejanaki-Dobrana—Sonpur; Sripur-Toposi-Kenda; Chora-Purushottampur; Lower Dhadka-

33
Naryankuri -Bandra - Sonachora - Bankola; Bara Chak - Nega - Jemari Raniganj - Lower
Kajora — Jambad — Bowlah — Bankola; Gopalpur — Upper Dhadka — Satpukhuria — Ghusik —
Searson — Upper Kajora; Hirakhun — Narsamuda. The Sanctoria-Ponjati and Dishergarh seams
belonging to the Raniganj stage are excellent steam coals, which can also be blended with good
Jharia coals for making coke.

The Raniganj measures divided into five tracts for describing the outcrops

1. Deilya - Nituria area (Sough of Damodar river)

2. Dishergarh - Asansol area
3. Asansol - Sekpur - Raniganj area
4. Tapasi - Sonepur - Andal area
5. Semalya - Purushottampur - Jhanjra area

1. Deilya - Nituria area (Sough of Damodar River)

This strata of the upper coal out to the south of the Damodar River, southeast of Raniganj. It
includes the collieries of Parbelia, Saltore, Deilya, Chaurashi, and Nadiha. The lower Raniganj
measures crop out near the junction of the Barakar and Damodar rivers and displaced by the
Deoli cross fault. A number of small mica-peridotite dykes have been observed at the surface
intersecting the Raniganj beds. Between Gourandi and Panchet hill near there is sandstone, south
of Damodar and southwest of Deoli is consisted of Ironstone, bright coal and massive grey
Sandstone. Sandstone, Shale, Massive sandstone shaly coal are found in Parbelia near Dishergarh

2. Dishergarh - Asansol area

Good quality coal can be found in northeastern of Damodar, East of Sitarampur and near
Raghunathpur. In the north of the Damodar River this tract of upper coal measure represents the
strata. Dishergarh seam have maximum thickness and certain of the higher coal seams with
greater economic value. The area includes the collieries of Dishergarh, Sanctoria, Seetalpur, and
Sodepur. To the southwest across the Damodar river the area is undisturbed by any kind of large
displacements. Near Sanctoria and Dishergarh, good coal, mica peridotites dyke are seen.

3. Asansol - Sekpur - Raniganj area

A number of the coalseams of the Raniganj series takes place in Asansol and within the Sekpur -
Raniganj tract. The strata affected by several cross faults. It is traversed by the large Mohishila -
Banbishnupur fault. Rocks are largely hidden by soil. The Charanpur strike faults intersected the
area between Jamuria and Sripur collieries. These measures include Jayramdanga, Baraboni,
Charanpur, Shibpur and Damodorpur collieries.

The strata have been divided into five stages.

34
 ¥, Uttardhadka - Satpukuria - Kotaldihi sandstones and shales with coalseams (850
ft).

IV, Kalipahari - Siarsol coal measures (250 - 350 ft).

III. Majiara - Rana- Shirpur - Satgram coal measures (800 - 900 ft).

II. Baraboni - Shibpur - Damodarpur - Sakpur coal measures (500 ft).

I. Domahani - Tailor sandstones (600 ft).

4. Tapasi - Sonepur - Andal area

The area includes the collieries of Tapasi, Dhasala, Mangalpur and Babuisol, Kajora, Jambad and
Shankarpur. In general the inclination of the strata is to the southeast at gentle angles. The area is
traversed by a number of dip and strike faults. The three main dip-faults traverse the area are
the Singaran fault, the Dobrana. Siduli dip fault and the Hansdiha, Shankarpur dip fault. Two
main zones of strike faulting include - the Kajora - Siduli Bankola fault and the Shankarpur -
Sitalpur strike fault. The number of igneous intrusion affects the measure. There is no dolerite
dykes and mica-peridotites intrusions sill observed between Tapasi and Kunustoria village. The
Raniganj strata have been divided into five stages:

V. Andal - Dakshin Khanda sandstones and shales with thin coalseam (600 ft).

IV. Mangalpur - Kajora - Jambad - Shankarpur coal measures (250 - 300 ft).

III. Tops! - Kenda - Chora - Sonepur coal measures (1200 ft in west and 900 ft in east).

II. Dhasala - Dahuka coal measures (175 ft).

I. Hijaigara - Chinchuria sandstones (376 ft).

5. Semaiya - Purushottampur - Jhanjra area

The measures are bounded on the southwest by the continuation of the Ajoy river fault. The
general dip of these rocks is to the south. The strata are completely hidden beneath a capping of
Laterite and alluvium, and complicated by a number of large faults. No intrusive rocks have been
met with in the Semaiya -Jhanjra area. These strata have been divided into different stages:

IV - V. upper coal measures of the Jhanjra - Konardihi area.

III. Kendra - Purushottampur coal measures

II. Semaiya - sandstone and shales

I. Absent

35