Inter-Relationship of Tectonism and Sedimentation in the Jharia Basin

The Jharia Coal Basin is composed of 2900 m of fresh-water Gondwana sediments deposited on the mature pediplained Archaean basement. The consistent fresh water features of the sediments indicate that the sedimentation kept pace with general subsidence. From the analysis of lithological attributes it can be postulated that there were longer intervals of rapid subsidence when fluviatile sediments were deposited; these alternated with shorter intervals of relative tectonic quiescence or slower rate of subsidence, favourable for the development of the regional coal seams. The subsidence was maximum during the Upper Barakar and Barren Measure times.