Nature, origin and mode of occurrence of Hangu-Kachai area coal, district Kohat, NWFP, Pakistan: A preliminary study
Abstract
Coal showings are known from the Hangu Formation of Paleocene age in the Hangu-Kachai area, northwest of Kohat. The Hangu Formation is well developed in this area and is comprised of quartzitic sandstone with minor intercalations of shale. The coal seam is developed near the upper contact of the Hangu Formation with the overlying Lockhart Limestone. Preliminary exploratory drilling of the Hangu Formation in the area have revealed the Presence of coal. The coal is dull to shinning black and ranges from high volatile B to C bituminous in rank. The Hangu area coal occurs in the form of discontinuous stringers and lenses and is less than 2 metres thick.
The average analytical results on as received basis indicate, the coal bed contains 0.52% moisture, 14.2% ash, 4.2% sulþhur, 53% fixed carbon and 32.64% volatile mat. ter. Based on the average BTU/lb and fixed carbon content of the Hangu-Kachai coal samples collected from the field, with minor exception of variation in colour, the Hangu coal is analogous to the known coals of the Balochistan and the Salt Range areas. On the basis of its stratigraphic position, mode of origin and structure, the Hangu-Kachai coal is comparable with the Makarwal coal of the Surghar Range. Detailed exploratory studies are proposed to evaluate the nature and extent of the Hangu-Kachai area coal.
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