Question 1987

Arrange the following states and UT in order of their highest reserves of tertiary coal: 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Meghalaya 3. Assam 4. Jammu and Kashmir 5. Jharkhand Identify the correct answer from the options given below.

Answer

1, 2, 3, 4

Why?

Tertiary coal generally has low carbon and high percentage of moisture and Sulphur. Lignite deposits occur in the tertiary sediments in the extra-peninsular region particularly in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat & Rajasthan and also in Jammu & Kashmir. The total known geological reserves of lignite as of 2017 is 44.7 billion tonnes, of which 80% reserves are located in Tamil Nadu. Peat deposits occur in Nilgiri hills and Kashmir valley (in the alluvium of the Jhelum). Maharashtra Kamptee coalfields (in Nagpur district) and Wardha valley (stretched over Nagpur and Yavatmal districts) carry most of the coal deposits in the state. The coal deposits of Maharashtra mainly belong to the Tertiary period . Tamil Nadu The coal deposits of Tamil Nadu (80% lignite coal reserves) are found in Neyveli in the South Arcot district. Rajasthan Palana and Khari mines of Bikaner district in Rajasthan carry Lignite deposits (inferior quality of coal). The coal produced is mainly used in the thermal power plants and railways. Gujarat The coal found in Gujarat is of poor quality and contains only about 35 percent of carbon. The moisture content in this coal is quite high. Jammu & Kashmir Coal in the state is of inferior quality and is found at Shaliganga, Handwara, Baramulla, Riasi, and Udhampur districts along with the Karewas of Badgam and Srinagar. Assam Makum coalfield in Sibsagar district is the most developed field. Assam coals contain very low ash and high coking qualities, but the sulphur content is high , as a result of which this coal is not suitable for metallurgical purposes. The coal is best suited for the hydrogenation process and is used for making liquid fuels . Upper Assam Coal belt extends eastwards as Namchick-Namrup coalfield (Arunachal Pradesh). Meghalaya Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills. Darrangiri field is in Garo hills. Cherrapunji and Langrin coalfields are in Khasi and Jaintia hills.