COAL

Pakistan contains large deposits of low quality (lignitic to sub-bituminous) coal of Tertiary age. The reserves excluding Thar Coal, field are estimated to be 447 million tonnes and a yearly production is over two million tones (some times 2-3 million tonnes). The main coalfields are situated in Indus Basin in three general areas, termed here as Coal Provinces, which are Salt Range, Quetta and Hyderabad 
Salt Range Coal Province: This is situated on the southern limit of Kohat-Potwar Province of the Upper Indus Basin. Two different coal horizons occur, one at the base of Paleocene in the western part of the area (i.e. Makarwal coal field in Trans-Indus Salt Range) and the other in Late Paleocene  in the eastern part of the-area(i.e. Khushab-Dandotcoal fields in the central and eastern Salt Range). The basal Paleocene Makerwal coal is the result of earliest Cenozoic transgression. The coal has perhaps been transformed from the vegetation, which flourished in the area following the Cretaceous  regression and prior to Paleocene transgression which caused deposition of sandy strand plab type  sediments called as Hangu Formation. The Hangu Formation exhibits rapid onlap eastwards, which  possibly is there as on of non-development of this coal horizonin eastern part of the Salt Range Coal  Provbce. Generally there are one or two coal beds ranging b thickness from less than 20 cm to 3 m. Permian coal is reported from Borikhel, but it is b insignificant quantities(Bhatti,1983). The Late Paleocene Salt Range coal is found b the Patala Formation. Although the formation is found all over the Salt Range but the coal of economic value is located b the central and eastern Salt Range only.In the central Salt Range there are more than two coal seams rangbg b thickness between 10 cm to1.5m.Coal seams are generally thickest b the south towards anticlbal core and thinnest bthe north towards Synclbalaxis of the Potwar synclborium(Shah,1971, 1980). Reserves of Makerwal coal are estimated at about 19 million tonnes (Danilchik and Shah,1967), those of the central Salt Range are 23 million tonnes (Shah, 1971 unpublished and 1980) and easternSalt Range 65 million tonnes (Khan, 1950).
Quetta Coal Province: This province is situated around Urak trough in the Lower-Middle Indus Basin and comprises three major coal fields, namely Khost-Hamai, Sor Range, Dcgari. and Mach and several small fields at Bahlol, Duki, Johan, etc. The coal horizon occurs as thin lenticular scams in the middle zone of Ghazij Group of Eocene age. The coal has developed as a result of an Eocene delta formed by a river flowing southeast and entering the Indus Basin near Quetta in a pre-orogenic structural depression known as Urak trough. Thus, around Quetta, there is a maximum development of coal deposits. The minor development in localities south (Johan) and northeast (Duki, Bahlol) of Quetta is due to the spreading of deltaic debris by the coastal currents (Hunting Survey Corporation, 1961).
Hyderabad Coal Province: This province is situated near the crest of a pre-orogenic positive structure called Hyderabad arch or high in the southern Kirthar Province of Lower Indus Basin. Two coal fieldsare known,oneat Lakhraandtheotherat Meting-Jhimpir. Thereare twocoal horizons one in the Bara Formation of Palcoccne age (at Lakhra) and the other in Sohnari member of Laki Formation of Early Eocene age (at Meting-Jhimpir). The Paleocene and Eocene sequences are separated by an unconformity. The Bara Formation is of fluviatile origin, which favoured accumulation of vegetation to give rise to coal. It is overlain by Lakhra Formation (Paleocene) of estuarine origin whose deposition was followed by emergence of the Hyderabad arch thereby marking an unconformity on top of Paleocene. Later the Eocene transgression resulted in the development of coastal swamps on the flanks of the arch in which swamp vegetation grew and was the source of the coal in the Sohnari Member (Hunting Survey Corporation,1961). Largest of all the coal deposits, is a recently discovered Thar Coal Field within the Hyderabad Coal Province. Separate and special treatment is given here to this coal field with all about its coal geology and its stratigraphy. The information on the Thar Coal resources has been provided by Abbas Ali Shah, (Director General, Sindh Coal Authority) in a written communication (2005).
CoalResources:Coal resources of the Thar Coalfield constitute around 98% of total coal deposits of
the country. Thar Coalfield contains a minimum of five coal bearing areas, these coalfields spread over an area extending from Thatta to Lakhra. The sizes of the coal fields can be well imagined from following reserve figures:                                                           (BillionTonnes)

Lakhra, (District Dadu)Coalfield                                1.328Sonda, (DistrictThatta)Coalfield                      7.112Metting-Jhimpir, (DistrictThatta) Coalfield           0.161BadinCoalfield                                                0.016Thatta Coalfield                                                175.506

                                                             184.125

Thar Coalfield, one of the biggest lignite deposits in the world, spread over an area of about 9100 ㎢ with dimensions of 140 km (north-south) and 65 km (east-west). Main coal deposition is located in district Thar Parkar in eastern part of Sindh province of Pakistan. It was discovered in the late 1980's. During the period (1992-93) regular exploration was initiated over four blocks covering an area of 356.5 ㎢. Based on 167 drill hoses, coal reserves of 9.715 billion tonnes, were established. Drilling continued and up to date 217holes have been drilled. Revised reserves of entire | coal-field(9100㎢) are estimated around 175.506 billion tonnes;the work is still in progress.
Based on the reconnaissance programme, preliminary evaluation of resources showed extremely high in-situ tonnage of coal (coal ASTM type B) in seams of extractable thickness up to 22.85 m. Depth of coal is 114 m minimum and 203 m maximum. The cumulative coal seam thickness is 36 m. The block-wise deposits are as under: