The microconstituents of Godavari coals,South India

The present paper deals in detail with the coal typology, rank and correlation of some Indian coal seams. Petrological evaluation of several known coal seams reveals that there are two main seams, the King (lower) seam and Queen (upper) seam, with distinctly different characteristics. All the other seams, locally known by different names elsewhere in the field, are correlatable with either the King or Queen seams.The coals are of inferior quality because of the predominance of mixed coals types associated with dispersed mineral matter. However, some seams show characteristics which are amenable to quality improvement with suitable preparation methods. The coals appear to have been formed rapidly in a fluctuating environment (aerobic to anaerobic) under relatively cold to gradually warming conditions.