On the Microscopic nature of coals from Majri Area, Wardha Valley Coalfield, Maharashtra

Abstract

The microscopic nature and composition of the Coals from Majri (20º 8': 79º 2') area, Wardha Valley coalfield, Maharashtra, about which no data whatsoever exists, are presented in this paper. These are microfragmental coals, comprising inertinite, vitrinite and exinite (sporinite), in decreasing order of abundance, occurring as mainly durite, fusite, "intermediates ", clarite and vitrite. The mineral and shaly matter is quite common and thoroughly intermixed with the organic layers, which alternate or are interbedded with shale and carbonaceous shale bands. The Wardha valley coalfield is separated to its south-east from the adjacent Godavari valley coalfield by the Upper Gondwanas. The coal bearing formations of these coalfields may thus continue below this cover. A large spread of the Gondwana sediments, whereby these coalfields form only a part of the Wardha-Godavari valley basin, is thus suggested. The petrological studies of the Majri, and Tandur (Godavari valley coalfield) coals have indicated close proximity, then with the coals of the other basins. There is, however, a lateral variation in the composition of coal, and that appears to be related to the source of sediments, conditions of deposition and the vegetal transformation.