GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF COALSOUMYARANJAN SAHOO

DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO TIME

• Within this geological age range there have been three major episodes of coal accumulation.

(a)The first took place during the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian periods. 1.High rank, 2. undergone through significant structural change. (b)The second episode occurred during the Jurassic–Cretaceous period. (c )The third major episode occurred during the Paleogene–Neogene Periods.

Geological age distribution of the world’s coal deposits

(Walker, 2000)

• The major coal deposits are principally in the Northern Hemisphere; with the exception of Australia & Southern Africa.

(Source-http://www.open.edu/)

• This relatively uneven distribution of coal is the result of peat formation at different times in the geological past, predominantly in tropical and equatorial latitudes, drifting of the continents to their present day positions.• During the Carboniferous period in the Northern part of Pangaea(Laurasia) peat

mires containing a flora of Lepidodendron, Sigillaria and Chordaites were characteristic of coal deposition.• And in the Southern part of Pangaea(Gondwanaland) Glossopteris &

Gangamopteris were the characteristic flora.• During the climate changed in the Permian Period and coal deposition ceased in

the Northern area.• But in the Southern part of Pangaea covering what is now S America,Southern

Africa, India and Australia peat mires formed under cooler more temperate conditions.

• After the break up of Pangaea, coal deposition continued through the Mesozoic and the Tertiary Periods, where another change in the floral types tookplace, heralding the onset of Angiosperm floras.• These changes in vegetation type are reflected in the type and proportion of

maceral present.• Laurasian coals are rich in Vitrinite group of macerals whereas gondwana coals

are rich in inertinite group of macerals.• Gondwana goals have high content of mineral matter but lower sulfur than

laurasian coals.

WORLD COAL RESERVES• According to WEC most of the coal are concentrated in

almost 70 countries.• Total coal reserves is 826 BT proved at the end of 2008,

representing about 122 yrs of production at current rate.• 411 BT of hard coal(Anthracite and bituminous)• 415 BT of brown coal(sub bituminous and lignite)

(recoverable reserves of hard coal,year-end 2008) (recoverable reserves of brown coal,year-end 2008)

DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO RANK

WORLD COAL PRODUCTION

• After the survey by World coal production in 2008 a major part of coal produced from Asia & Pacific. Here also the main producer is China.• Top seven coal producers are China, USA, India, Australia, Russia,

Indonesia, SA. These contribute about 85% of whole production.• Though China is the heighest producer but having lower R/P ratio

than USA.

SUMMARY

(Taken from: Open University Course S278: Earth’s physical resources: origin, use and environmental impact)

COAL DEPOSITS OF CHINA

• China ranks top coal producing country.• Major coal fields are 1. The Shansi Shensi fields 2. The Shantung-Hopei fields 3. The Manchurian fields

(Source-http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/)

COAL DEPOSITS OF USA

• In North America, 98% of the reserves are located in the USA.

• From its total resources bituminous coals is of 54%, subbituminous coal 37% and lignite is 9%.

Major coal producing areas are 1.Appalichian coal fields. 2.Eastern interior coalfields. 3.Western interior coal fields. 4.Rocky mountain coalfields. 5.Northern coal fields.

(Source- http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/)

COAL DEPOSITS OF AFRICA• Coal deposits of Africa are found in

the widespread Karroo deposits of Late Carboniferous–Permian age found throughout central and southern Africa.• The Karoo sequences were deposited

on the Gondwana supercontinent which split apart inthe Mesozoic Period, hence the similarities of African Gondwana coals with those of India and South America.• Brown coals of Tertiary age also

found.• More than 50 coal deposits are found

in Africa.(Source-coal geology by Larry Thomas)

COAL DEPOSITS OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENTS

• The Indian subcontinent extends from Iraq in the west to Bangladesh in the east.• Palaeozoic coals are found in India,

Pakistan and Bangladesh.• Mesozoic coals are present in

Afghanistan,India, Pakistan and Iran.• Cenozoic coals are found in all the

countries of the subcontinent.• About 25 coal deposits are present.• India occupies 3rd in world production.

(Source-coal geology by Larry Thomas)

COAL FIELDS OF SOUTH AMERICA

• Majority of the coal fields are of Cenozoic age.• Coals of Paleozoic age are found in

eastern south America, in Brazil and Uruguay.• The Paleozoic and Mesozic coal seams

are very thin & highly tectonized. • SA contains about 40 coal fields.

(Source-coal geology by Larry Thomas)

COAL DEPOSITS OF CIS

• CIS is the third largest coal producer in the world.• Black coal is found mainly in

Tunguska basin.• About 16 coal fields are found.

(Source-coal geology by Larry Thomas)

COAL DEPOSITS OF AUSTRALIA• Coal producing areas of Australia are

western Australia, New south wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.• The coal is of excellent quality, with a

high calorific value and low levels of sulfur, ash and other impurities.• Australia is heighest coal

exporter(mostly to japan).

(Source-coal geology by Larry Thomas)

REFERENCES1.Coal geology by Larry Thomas.2. http://daily.sightline.org/3. www.open.edu4. http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/

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