The Geological Survey of India has identified 46 new coal blocks in the country, out of which 12 are located in West Bengal. Out of the 34 new coal blocks outside Bengal, Chattisgarh has 12, Madhya Pradesh 11, Maharashtra 4, Jharkhand 1, Telangana 2, North-Eastern regions 3 and Andhra Pradesh 1. According to GSI scientists, the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute is generally given the task to upgrade blocks before they are ready for auctioning. Scientists say that the GSI organises 600 to 700 “exploration programmes” annually taking four to five years to complete mineral exploration of a particular area.

Did You Know???

• Coal is made largely of carbon but also features other elements such as hydrogen,oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen.
• Coal starts off as plant matter at the bottom of water. It is eventually covered and deeply buried by sediments where over time metamorphosis (a change in form) takes place.
• Different types of coal contain different amounts of carbon. Lignite contains only around 60 to 75%, while anthracite contains more than 92%.
• Anthracite is a hard, shiny, black coal that burns with a blue, smokeless flame. While most forms of coal are associated with sedimentary rock, anthracite undergoes metamorphism and is linked to metamorphic rocks.
• Coal has long been burned to create electricity and heat. The use of coal is increasing every year, in 2006 the world consumed over 6,000,000,000,000 kilograms of coal!
• Coal is the world’s largest source of energy for the production of electricity.
• Coal is converted to electricity by being burned in a furnace with a boiler. The boiler water is heated until it becomes steam, with the steam then spinning turbines and generators to create the electricity.