Coal Resources

 Location and Accessibility:-

The Thar coalfield is approximately located between Latitudes 24º15’N and

25º45’N and Longitudes 69º 45’E and 70º 45’E in the southern part of Sindh Province in

the Survey of Pakistan topo-sheet Nos. 40 L/2,5 and 6. Based on available infrastructure

and favourable geology, the Geological Survey of Pakistan selected four blocks near

Islamkot for exploration and assessment of coal resources. The blocks with names, area

and coordinates are given in Table-1:-

• 
  
• S.No. Name/Blocks                 Area

1.     Sinhar Vikian Varvai,     Block-I 122.

1.     Singharo Bhitro,            Block-II    55.00
2.     Saleh Jo Tar,                 Block – III 99.50
3.     Sonalba,                        Block – IV 82.

The area is accessible by a 410 kilometers metalled road form Karachi up to

Islamkot via Hyderabad-Mirpur Khas- Naukot and Thatta-Badin-Mithi-Islamkot. A road

network connecting all the major towns with Thar Coalfield have been developed. The

rail link from Hyderabad is up to Naukot, which is about 100 kilometers from Islamkot.

Coal

The coal beds of variable thickness ranging from 0.20 – 22.81 meters are

developed. The maximum number of coal seams found in some of the drill holes is 20.

The cumulative thickness of the coal beds range from 0.2 to 36 meters. Claystone

invariabley forms the roof and the floor rock of the coal beds.

The coal is brownish black, black and grayish black in colour. It is poorly to well

cleared and compact. The quality of coal is better where percentage of clay is nominal.

   

  Relief, Topography and Climate 

Thar coalfield is a part of the Thar Desert of Pakistan and is the 9th largest

desert of the world. It is bounded in the north, east and south by India, in the west by flood plains of the Indus River. The terrain is sandy and rough with sand dunes forming  the topography. The relief in the area varies between near sea level to more than 150 meters AMSL.

The climate is essentially that of an aid to semi arid region with scorching hot summers and relatively cold winters. It is one of the most densely populated  deserts of the world with over 91 thousand inhabitants. The livelihood of the  population is dependent on agriculture and livestock.

Water Resources

The area is a part of the desert where precipitation is very little with a high rate of evaporation. As such, limited water resources are of great significance.

             a. SURFACE WATER

The water is scanty and found in a few small “tarais” and artificially dug   

depressions where rain water collects. These depressions generally

consist of silty clay and caliche material.

b. GROUNDWATER

The hydro-geological studies and drill hole geology shows the presence of

three possible aquifer zones at varying depths: (i) above the coal zone (ii)

within the coal zone and (iii) below the coal zone.

Drilling data has indicated three aquifers (water-bearing Zones) at an

Average depth of 50 m, 120 m and more than 200 meters: