Introduction

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1.1- Introduction

Availability of natural resources and their proper application to overall development activities

is the key factor for the economic growth of any nation. Bangladesh, though it is a small

country of about 143,998 sq km, has a number of mineral resources within its territory. The

mineral resources so far discovered are mineral fuels (oil, gas, coal, peat), hard rock,

limestone, white clay, glass sand and heavy mineral sands. It was previously assumed that the

geological setting of Bangladesh was more suitable for hydrocarbon accumulation than for

any other mineral deposits as the greater part of Bangladesh is covered by thick alluvium.

Nowadays, the assumption has been changed as it is proved by detailed geological and

geophysical explorations that Bangladesh is rich not only in hydrocarbon accumulation but

that it also has huge deposits of coal and hard rock in its north-northwestern part.

1.2- Mines in Study Area

The northern part of Bangladesh has some natural advantage. Natural resources are one of

them. Coal, hard rock, white clay, stone etc are found here. These natural resources are

directly contributes in our national economy. Among various natural resource, only two

natural resources and their management status was observed.

Hard rock- Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mining Company Limited (MHMCL),

Dinajpur.

Coal- Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL), Dinajpur.

1.2.1- Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mining Company Limited (MHMCL)

This company formed to accelerate the construction works of Maddhyapara mine and

operate the Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mine Project of Petrobangla at Dinajpur in August

1998. The underground mine under construction at Maddhyapara targets for production of

1.6 million tons of construction rocks per annum. Until June 2000, 58% of the mine

construction works were completed and the project was scheduled to complete construction

works within June 2001. Currently the project authority is trying to extend the project

completion period.

1.2.2- Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL)

This company formed in August 1998 to operate the Barapukuria Coal Mine Project of

Petrobangla with a target production of one million ton of coal from an under construction

mine at Barapukuria, Dinajpur. Until June 2000 approximately 49% of the project works

could be completed and the target completion was scheduled in June 2001. But the schedule

is revised and it is expected that the mine construction will be completed with necessary

facilities of commercial production in August 2004.

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1.3- Map of the Study Area

Map-1: Location of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited and Maddhyapara Hard

Rock Mining Company Limited

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1.4-Location of study area

Both the mines are situated in Dinajpur district of Rajshahi division. Details location of these

two mines are-

1.4.1- Maddhyapara Granite Mine

It situated at-

Village: Maddhyapara,

Police Station: Parbatipur,

District: Dinajpur.

According to GPS (Global positioning system) reading it lies between 25°33'45" E and 25°33'39"

N and the hard rock deposition area 25°33'53"N and 89°03'43" E.

1.4.2- Barapukuria coal mine

It situated at-

Village: Chowhati,

Police Station: Parbatipur,

District: Dinajpur.

According to GPS (Global positioning system) reading Barapukuria Coal basin lies between the

latitudes 25°3l'45" and 25°33'50" N and the longitudes 88°57'48" and 88°58'53" E. the total

basin covers about 5.25 sq. km.

1.5- Objectives of the Study Tour

1. To observe the geo-environment of mine area.

2. To know about the socio-economic condition of the people of the study area.

3. To observe the biodiversity of the study area.

4. To observe the impact of the hazards caused by mining.

5. To know about the potential hazards of the study area.

6. To know about the procedure of the mining operation.

7. To observe the natural resources of the study area.

8. To know the importance of the study area.

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1.6- Scope and Limitations

The study had several limitations:

1. During the tour the weather of study area was not good, for raining field work was a

little bit slower.

2. As all sites in the underground mine were not allowed for sampling due to risky

conditions, the number of study points and the number of samples collected were

limited.

3. For some technical problem it was restricted to enter into the mine.

1.7- Methodology

Methodology means the analysis of the principles of methods, rules, and postulates employed

by a discipline or the development of methods, to be applied within a discipline.

Methodology includes the following concepts as they relate to a particular discipline or field

of inquiry:

1. A collection of theories, concepts or ideas;

2. Comparative study of different approaches; and

3. Critique of the individual methods

Data are collected from both primary and secondary sources. Data collection for this report

can be divided into three categories-

1. Physical observation: Primary data are collected through interview with responsible

environmental officer of the mining company and local people. Data also collected

through sightseeing of the mine area in the guidance of the mine employee.

2. Presentation and Video: Data also collected from the presentation and video of

mining technique presented and showed by the engineers of the mining company.

3. Published document: The secondary data are collected from various books, journals,

articles, periodical reports, research papers and annual reports of Petrobangla and its

companies.

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2- Geographic Condition of the Study Area

This report deals with the Maddhyapara hard rock mine and Barapukuria coal mine. There

are individual geographic condition of these two sites are given-

2.1- Site-1: Maddhyapara Hard rock Mine

Geological Setting

The Bengal Basin, one of the largest geosynclinal basins of the world, has been created by

crustcil extension and rifting during the Jurassic to Early Cretaceous in association with a passive

continental margin followed by the Tertiary crustal collision, subduction and the orogeny of the

Indo-Burmese Folded Belt in the east and northeast (Salt, 1986). In the Paleocene/Lower

Eocene time, the first contact of the northward moving Indian plate with the Eurasian plate took

place and the Bengal Basin started to originate. The Bengal Basin is a NE-SW trending

pericratonic basin (Desikachar, 1974) having the ancient platform of Peninsular India in the west.

To the north, the basin is bordered by the Shillong Massif and highly folded regions like the

Himalayas, whereas Arakan-Yoma mega-anticlinorium marking the eastern limit. The Bay of

Bengal delineates the southern boundary of the basin.

The crustal dynamics during the Precambrian and Tertiary have contributed greatly in the

development of the tectonic elements of the Bengal Basin. The main tectonic elements of the

Bengal Basin are-

1) Folded Belt,

2) Bengal Foredeep,

3) Continental Slope or the Hinge Zone,

4) Western Foreland Shelf,

5) Rangpur Saddle,

6) Himalayan Foredeep, and

7) Dauki Fault Zone

( Bakhtine 1966, Guha 1978, Reimann 1993 and Ganguly 1997), The western flank of the basin

comprises of two major tectonic elements, i.e. Continental Slope and Foreland Shelf. The

Continental Slope or the Hinge Zone is the transitional zone between the stable shelf in the west

and the Bengal Foredeep in the south-east. The shelf area is again subdivided into two

tectonic elements-

a) The Rangpur Saddle and

b) The Western Foreland Shelf. The Western Foreland Shelf is built up of the Archean basement

complex and dips gently south-eastward.

Maddhapara and its surrounding area lie in the tectonic zone of the Rangpur Platform, which

occurs as an oval shaped block and considered as subsurface continuation of the Shillong Plateau

and Chhotanagpur Plateau. A basement high is located at Maddhapara (Rahman, 1987), which

is limited on the east by a northwest-southeast trending fault. The bore hole BH-18 was drilled in

the upper part of Maddhapara-Kushdaha basement high (Rahman, 1994) which is situated at the

north-eastern extremities of the stable platform.

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Fig, 1.5. Major structural elements of the Bengal Basin and Its adjacent areas

(Modified after Bakhtine 1966, Guha 1978, Alain 1990, Reimann 1993 and Gunguiy 1997).

Structurally the Rangpur Platform area is fault-controlled. This platform with an extension of

about 100 km is considered to be the possible subsurface connection between the Indian

platform and the Shillong massif. The faults observed within this tectonic element were formed as

intrabasinal graben and half graben features that existed during the Gondwana Period.

According to Rahman (1987) the condition of deposition and hence the geological history of

Maddhapara and adjoining area appear to be different from its surroundings. The surface and

subsurface data indicate wide geological variation in between the shelf area and the Bengal

Foredeep area. Stratigraphic succession found in the drill holes in and around Maddhapara

reveals that the basins were possibly formed in different faulted traps or grabens in the

basement where the Gondwana sediments were deposited. After the Gondwana sedimentation

the Maddhapara and adjoining area were uplifted. Absence of Rajmahal Trap and Sibgonj

Formation (trap wash) in the area suggests that the area remained above sea level probably till

the first phase of the Himalayan upheaval at the end of the Cretaceous. The horst part of the

basement remained as landmass till the Paleocene to Eocene time, which was subjected to

weathering and erosion. During the Paieocene to Eocene times the area probably formed

continental basin where sediments of the Tura Formation were deposited. The Sylhet Limestone

Formation and Surma Group are not present which probably signify that the area remained

above sea level from the Late Eocene to Miocene times. At a later stage, the area subsided and

went under water when rocks of the Dupi Tila Formation were deposited directly over the Tura

Formation under continental environment and it continued till the recent time.

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Maddhapara and its adjoining area are covered with the Holocene sediment except for few

places where Madhupur Clay exists under a thick veneer of soil. Therefore, the subsurface

geological information of the area is based on the geophysical and drill hole data. The rock

units found in the drill holes are the Precambrian Basement, Dupitila Formation, Madhupur

Clay and Alluvium.

The Stratigraphic succession of the Maddhapara and its surrounding area based on drilling data

are given in the Table –

Table: The stratigraphic succession of Maddhapara and surrounding area based on drilling data

of BH-1, 2,3,4 & 5( Nehaluddin et al., 1996).

Formation Lithology Age Thickness

(m)

Alluvium

Light gray to yellowish gray clay and silty

clay

Holocene 1.5

Madhupur Clay Reddish brown clay, often brick red,

mottled, sticky and plastic when

wet, contain ferruginous nodules

i 'npn

nformity

Pleistocene 1.5

Dupi Tila Reddish brown to yellowish brown

sandstone medium to fine-grained

interbedded with pebbly sandstone.

Silica sand and kaolinized zone at the

lower part.

Unconformity

Pleistocene to

Upper

Pliocene

136.5

Weathered

basement

Weathered granodiorite Precambrian 8

Fresh basement Granodiohte, diorite, granities,

granodiorite gneiss, microdiorite gneiss.

Base not seen

Precambrian 150+

2.2- Site-2: Barapukuria Coal Mine

2.2.1- Regional Setting

Three major crustal provinces such as the sub-cropped Dinajpur shield (greater Dinajpur,

Rangpur), the stable shelf (Bogra-Rajshahi) and the deep geosynclinal basin constitute

Bangladesh. Several graben/half-graben basins have been discovered in the sub-cropped

Dinajpur Shield and stable shelf (Uddin and Islam 1992; Islam 2001). This area is located at

the junction of the Indian plate, Eurasian plate and Burmese sub-plate (Khan and Chouhan

1996). These result in the formation of major tectonic zones like, platform flank zone in the

west, a deeper basin zone in the middle, and the folded belt in the east within the

Bangladesh. The hinge zone is conventionally considered as the dividing line between the

Platform and the deep basin.

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Figure . The map shows the major geotectonic features in and around northwestern Bangladesh.

(BCB = Barapukuria Coal Basin), DP= Dinajpur Platform, L = Lineament, NGIH = Nawabganj-Gaibandha

Intncratonic High, RV = Rajmahal Volcanics, IH = Jangipar High, NSP = North Slope of the Platform (part

of Sud-Himalayan Foredeep), SSP=Southem Slope of the Platform, HZ= Hinge Zone, (compiled and

modified after Khan 1991. Khan and Chouhan 1996. Keena and Kayal2003).

Barapukuria coal basin is located in the Dinajpur Shield of Bangladesh and is surrounded

by Himalayan Foredeep to the north, by Shillong Shield/Platform to the east and the

Indian Peninsular Shield to the west. The so-called Garo-Rajmahal gap lies in between

the exposed Indian Shield and the Shillong Shield, which correspond to a shallow buried

basement ridge known as the Platform flank zone (Desikachar 1974, Khan 1991). In

Bangladesh segment, the Garo-Rajmahal gap is well-known as 'Rangpur Saddle' within

which most of the Gondwana coal basins including Barapukuria, Phulbari, Ktalaspir,

Dighipara are situated (Uddin and Islam 1992, Bakr et at. 1996, Islam 2001).

At the time of deposition, the Barapukuria Coal Mine area was part of the

Gondwanaland super-continent quite close to the South Pole until its break-up in

Cretaceous times, some 80 to 100 million years ago. With the breakup of the super-

continent, the Indian sub-plate including northwest Bangladesh drifted away from near the

South Pole to where it is today, colliding during Tertiary with the Eurasia The collision led

to the formation of the Himalayas and the tectonic setting of Bengal Basin (Khan 1991,

Khan et al. 1996, WA 1991, Bakr et at 1996). .

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2.2.2- Structure and Stratigraphy

The Barapukuria coal basin is a north-south elongated graben basin bounded by a major

N-S oriented Eastern boundary fault. The Gondowana sedimentary sequence within the

basin forms a singular asymmetric synclinal fold with axis running in direction of about

N10°W. The axial plane dips to east. Strata in the western limb are almost Hat, but dip at

angle of 6 to 11^ in the north, 13° to 16° in the south, and it becomes steeper (dip angle

23 to 27 near to the west of the fault Fb (Figure 2). Strata of the east limb are cut by the

fault Fa and are developed incompletely. Here the beds are steeper with dip angle

commonly between 306 to 40° and locally up to 50° (WA 1991, Bakr et al. 1996, Islam

2001). The basin is griss-crpssed b^ many faults. Most of the faults are mainly normal

faults with very high dip angle (CMC 1994) i.e. greater than 70 (Table 1). The azimuth of

the faults is regular, conforms to the fold form, and extends with the small-inclined angle

to the strike of strata except for the eastern boundary fault Fa (WA 1991, Bakr et al 1996,

Islam 2001). The faults on the western flank dip to the east and appear as the step. The

eastern flank is the boundary fault, extends far and deeper, and independently dips to the

west (Bakr et al. 1996). A total number of 37 faults have been identified by seismic

section study. Faults with throw >10 m are well controlled and are mainly distributed

above 250 m levels, while the faults with throw <10 m are below 250 m levels. In the

central part of the mine area these faults with high and low magnitudes along with

igneous intrusion are identified (Figure 3). In the Maddhyapara hard rock mine which is 8

km north east of Earapufcuria Coal Mine, the Achaean basement lies at shallower depth

only about 118m and is covered directly by Late-Tertiary sediments.

Figure . Geological structures of Barapukuria Coal Basin (after WA 1991. Bakr etal. 1996).

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2.2.3- Hydrogeological Condition

Barapukuria Coal Mine is a 'Mine Under Water', because water-bearing Dupi Tija

Formation (more than 200 m) overlies the recoverable coal seam. The upper Dupitila

Formation (UDT) is an unconfined aquifer and forms the most prolific reservoir of usable

water of this area with very high water pressure. In the basin area, the groundwater

flows from NE to SW direction having almost flat (0.0004-0.0006) hydraulic gradient,

where horizontal flow is insignificant compared to vertical flow (WA 1991). Horizontal

flow per kilometer width of aquifer is 7 liter/second and the average transmissivity.

Permeability, specific yield, storage coefficient and velocities are 1200 m2/day, 15-20

m/day, 25 to 309, 0.0004 and 0.02 m/day respectively. The UDT Formation is

porous, regional and thick mega-aquifer and is the water recharge source for various

aquifers in the Gondwana strata. The most serious issue affecting the safe operation of

Coal mine is water inrush from the UDT Formation. For most of the time, groundwater

from the UDT penetrates into coal-bearing sequences through different faults, joints and

fractures. It is difficult to always dewater because it is widely distributed, recharged by the

precipitation and has enough storage. The lower Dupitila Formation (LDT) is relatively

thin with variable thickness of 0 to 81 m and is characterized by clay dominated water

resisting layer. In the north side of the mine (square area of Figure 2) it is thin and

becomes very thin to absent in the further north and creates an 'open window'. As a

result the recoverable seam VI is directly connected to overlying water reservoir in the

north side. This had contributed to the mine water inrush hazard in 1998; at the initial

stage efface development through blasting operation.

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3- Description of the Study Area

This report deals with two mining areas. These two mines are extracting by two different

companies. This are-

Maddhyapara Granite Mining Company limited

Barapukuria Coal mining Company Limited

3.1- Maddhyapara Granite Mining Company limited

3.1.1- History

Maddhyapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL) a company of Petrobangla under

the Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, and Government of the People’s

Republic of Bangladesh was incorporated on August 04, 1998 with a paid up Capital of Taka

350 Crore under Company Act. Of 1994.

This is a new company formed to operate the under construction hard rock mine at

Maddhyapara in Dinajpur district. The mine was expected to be fully operational by the end

of 2006, with a capacity to produce about 1.65 million tons of hard rock per year.

Major elements of the mine have been completed including pit bottom development, cage

shaft, power sub-station, rail track, administration complex, etc. The company is also

preparing its personnel for the takeover of the mine. Granite mined during development

phase are finding good market. During the mine development period, 347274.90 metric ton

granite was produced from which 1325428 metric ton have been sold. During 2004-05 it

produced 37147 metric ton and up to December 2005 it produced 15218 metric ton granite.

The granite produced is expected to be used mostly as construction material and will

substitute import. As a diversification, MGMCL is also studying the market potential and

techno-economical feasibility of producing tiles from the colorful granite blocks, as a

replacement of equivalent imported tiles.

3.1.2- Objectives

Maddhyapara Granite Mining Company Ltd. Was established with multifold responsibilities of

production of hard rock with daily production capacity of 5,500 M. tons from the

underground mine, marketing & selling of the produced hard rock to different Government

entities e.g. Roads & Highways, Water Development Board, Port Authority etc. as well as to

different private organizations using rock for the purposes of construction for tiles, block

production using dust etc.

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3.1.3- Project Performa (PP)

Table: Stage of Project Approval

Stage Approval

Date

Project Cost (Tk. in Lakh)

L.C. F.C. Total

1st PP 13.10.1978 --- --- ---

1st Revised PP 08.09.1993 --- --- ---

2nd

Revised PP 22.03.1998 --- --- ---

3rd Revised PP 22.12.2003 33110.06

($57.086 Million)

69388.25

($140.803 Million)

102498.31

($197.889 Million)

Project Period: July 1993–June 2005

3.1.4- Construction Contract

Contract Signed on ( Petrobangla & Nam Nam) 27.03.1994

Effective Date of Contract 08.06.1994

Completion date of Contract 15.06.2005

Completion date of Project 30.06.2005

Employer Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral

Corporation (Petrobangla)

Contractor Nam Nam (South Korea)

Consultant of the Project M/S. Kopex S.A. Poland

3.1.5- Management, Production and Maintenance Services

Signing Date of Contract 27.03.1994 between Petrobangla & South

Korean Company Nam Nam

Demand of Hard Rock in Bangladesh 4.5-6.5 Million Ton/Year.

Target Production of the Mine 5500 Ton/Day i.e. 1.65 Million Ton/Year

Cost of Imported Hard Rock Boulder $18/Ton

Estimated Production Cost 11.479/Ton

Selling Price of Hard Rock $15/Ton for Boulder & $17/Ton for Crushed

Rock

Proposed Sale Price $17/Ton for Boulder & $20/Ton for Crushed

Rock

Total Production of Rock upto May

2007

461153.29 M.Ton

Total Sale of Rock upto May 2007 393191.47 M. Ton

Nos. of Investigatory Bore-holes 16 Nos.

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3.1.6- Present Status

The construction work of the project has been completed. The formalities for Handover/

Takeover are also completed. The inauguration for commercial production may be held on

24th May, 2007.

Hard rock has been extracted up to April 2007 a sum of total amount of 459,283.98 metric

ton 392030.78 M. Ton of hard rock have already been sold to different organizations. The

existing crusher installed at the project site can crush hard rock 5 mm to 20 mm, 20 mm to 40

mm and 60 to 40 mm. A 30 M. Ton and A 50 M Ton capacity of truck Weighers have

already been installed at the project site, by which the loaded track are measured for selling

purpose of hard rock.

3.1.7- Environment Preservation

The project will make a significant contribution to improve environment and ecological

balance by replacing clay-burnt bricks in construction works. Present brick manufacturing not

only causes damage to agricultural land but also causes deforestation due to indiscriminate use

of fire-wood in brick-field and other purposes. The Project will significantly reduce production

of bricks for construction purposes and thus held to check deforestation.

The company has taken up necessary steps to preserve environment at the project site during

its implementation project. The mine water are being examine regularly in order to prevent

pollution of surrounding areas. Besides various gases which evolved due to blasting are

measured by gas analyzer regularly. With the help of spraying and water using local fan, gases

are diluted and eliminated as such miners are saved from any hazards.

In line of the Government policy, 2818 nos. of different varieties saplings were planted in the

project area in order to keep ecological balance.

3.1.8- Socio Economic Development of the Project Area

The following Socio Economic Development had been established because of the project:

Up-gradation & completion of existing Phulbari - Maddhapara Road (13 km) by Roads and

High ways Department. The work has already been completed.

Bhabanipur – Maddhapara Railway line (14.5 km) construction by Bangladesh Railway. The

Railway line has already been completed.

Rangpur – Maddhapara – Barapukuria – Syedpur (about 70 km) 33KV Power Transmission

line by Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB). The transmission line has already been

completed.

Maddhapara – Mithapukur and Maddhapara –Badargonj Road upgrading and completion by

Roads & High Ways. Roads are being implemented by Roads & High ways.

The project will also contribute in creation of linkage industries, infrastructural facilities, direct

and indirect job opportunities for overall socio-economic development of the project area.

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3.1.9- Human Resources Development

At present total Manpower of the company stands at which included officer and 70 staffs. In

local and abroad various type of training courses have been organized to develop the human

resources of company. 20 nos. of officers have already been trained in different discipline of

mining in DPR of Korea. 320 nos. of mine workers have been locally trained by Korean Mine

experts. After completion of the project they would be employed in place of Agreement with

Supervisory. 23 nos. of officers Have already been trained in Poland under the

Supplementary Agreement with Supervisory Consultancy. 57 nos officers had also been

trained up locally in different courses from different training institute e.g. Academy for

planning and Development, TICI, IEB, BPI, BIM, USAID etc.

3.1.10- Mine Plan of the Hard Rock Mine

Figure: Mine Plan of the Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mine

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3.1.11- Mining Procedure

Underground hard rock mining refers to various underground mining techniques used to

excavate hard minerals such as those containing metals like gold, copper, zinc, nickel and lead

or gems such as diamonds.

Mining techniques can be divided into two basic excavation types:

1. Surface mining

Open-pit mining

Quarrying

Strip mining

Placer mining

Mountaintop removal

2. Sub-surface mining

Drift mining

Slope mining

Shaft mining

Hard rock mining

Borehole mining

Drift and Fill mining

Long Hole Stope mining

Sublevel Caving

Block Caving

Shrinkage Stope mining

3.1.11.1- Some Important Mining Methods

Cut and Fill mining: Cut and Fill mining is a method of short hole mining used in narrow ore

zones. An access ramp is driven off the main level to the bottom of the ore zone to be

accessed. Using development mining techniques a drift is driven through the ore to the

defined limit of mining. Upon completion the drift (or "cut") is filled back to the access ramp

with the defined type of backfill, which may be either consolidated or unconsolidated.

Another drift is driven on top of filled cut. This process continues until the top of the stope is

reached.

Drift and Fill: Drift and Fill is similar to cut and fill, except it is used in ore zones which are

wider than the method of drifting will allow to be mined. In this case the first drift is

developed in the ore, is backfilled using consolidated fill. The second drift is driven adjacent

to the first drift. This carries on until the ore zone is mined out to its full width, at which time

the second cut is started atop of the first cut.

Room and Pillar mining: Room and pillar mining is commonly done in flat or gently dipping

bedded ore bodies. Pillars are left in place in a regular pattern while the rooms are mined out.

In many room and pillar mines, the pillars are taken out starting at the farthest point from the

stope access, allowing the roof collapes and fill in the stope. This allows a greater recovery as

less ore is left behind in pillars.

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Block Caving: Block Caving is a form of stope and retreat, used to effect with large sized

orebodies which are composed of hard, stable rock. The method works best with cylindrical,

vertical orebodies, where the orebody can be dropped down into the stope, which is filled

with waste, the whole process removing the ore from base upwards. The roof pillar, the rock

which sits above the orebody, is either left in place or removed, depending on whether the

deposit outcrops at surface.

3.1.11.2- Development Mining vs. Production Mining

There are two principle types of mining, development mining and production mining.

Development mining is composed of excavation almost entirely in (non-valuable) waste rock.

There are five steps in development mining: remove previously blasted material (muck out

round), drill rock face, load explosives, blast explosives, and support excavation.

Production mining is further broken down into two methods, long hole and short hole. Short

hole mining is similar to development mining, except that it occurs in ore. There are several

different methods of long hole mining. Typically long hole mining requires two excavations

within the ore at different elevations below surface, (15m-30m apart). Holes are drilled

between the two excavations and loaded with explosives. The holes are blasted and the ore is

removed from the bottom excavation.

3.1.11.3- Ventilation

One of the most important aspects of underground hard rock mining is ventilation.

Ventilation is required to clear toxic fumes from blasting and removing exhaust fumes from

diesel equipment. In deep hot mines ventilation is also required for cooling the workplace for

miners. Ventilation raises are excavated to provide ventilation for the workplaces, and can be

modified to be used as escape routes in case of emergency.

3.1.11.4- Ground Support

Some means of support is required in order to maintain the stability of the openings that are

excavated. This support comes in two forms, local support and area support.

Area Ground Support: Area ground support is used to prevent major ground failure.

Holes are drilled into the back (ceiling) and walls and a long metal bar (or rock bolt)

is installed to hold the ground together. There are several different styles of area

ground support.

Local Ground Support: Local ground support is used to prevent smaller rocks from

falling from the back and walls. Not all excavations require local ground support.

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3.1.11.5- Stope and Retreat vs. Stope and Fill

Stope and Retreat: Using this method, mining is planned to extract rock from the

stopes without filling the voids, this allows the wall rocks to cave in to the extracted

stope after all the ore has been removed. The stope is then sealed to prevent access.

Stope and Fill: Where large bulk ore bodies are to be mined at great depth, or where

leaving pillars of ore is uneconomical, the open stope can be filled with backfill, which

can be cement and rock mixture, a cement and sand mixture or a cement and tailings

mixture. This method is popular as the refilled stopes provide support for the adjacent

stopes, allowing total extraction of economic resources.

3.1.11.6- Ore Removal

In mines which use rubber tired equipment for coarse ore removal, the ore is removed from

the stope (referred to as "mucked out") using center articulated vehicles (referred to as boggers

or LHD [short for Load, Haul, Dump]). These pieces of equipment may operate using diesel

or electric engines and resemble a low-profile front end loader.

The ore is then dumped into a truck to be hauled to surface (in shallower mines). In deeper

mines the ore is dumped down an ore pass (a vertical or near vertical excavation) where it

falls to a collection level. On the collection level it may receive primary crushing via jaw

crusher. The ore is then moved by Conveyor belts, trucks or occasionally trains to the shaft to

be hoisted to surface in buckets or skips and emptied into bins beneath surface headframe for

transport to the mill.

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Mine area Hard Rock

Main Shaft Ventilation Fan

Mine Operating Room Rock Crushing Plant

Mining Equipments Transportation

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3.2- Barapukuria Coal mining Company Limited

3.2.1- History

Coal was first discovered at Phulbari in north-west Bangladesh during surveying and drilling

between 1994 -1997 by the Australian mining company BHP, which entered into licensing and

investment agreements with the Government of Bangladesh. These agreements were acquired

by Asia Energy Corporation Bangladesh Pty Ltd in 1998 and were in turn taken over by Asia

Energy PLC in 2003.

BHP established the presence of a coal deposit of between 14 and 45 metres thickness at a

depth of 150 metres to 250 metres with inferred resources of 387 million. Subsequent drilling

by Asia Energy increased the estimated in situ resource to 426 million tonnes.The coal

resource (JORC code indicated and inferred) is 370 million tonnes.

In September 2004 studies by Aisa Energy indicated the Phulbari Coal Project’s outstanding

economic potential for an open cast mine. Based on a 15 million tonnes per year coal

operation and a 30-year mine life, showed a Project Net Present Value of US$2.3 billion

using a discount rate of 10%. Start-up capital to the second year of production was estimated

at approximately US $530 million. The low sulphur coal type at Phulbari, varying between

High Volatile A and High Volatile B bituminous, will be suitable for both a mine-mouth

power station and for export to Asian seaborne markets. The projected mine offers a large

number of benefits for the local, regional and national economies of Bangladesh.

3.2.2- Objectives

This company formed to operate the coal mine constructed at Barapukuria in Dinajpur

district. This mine has a capacity to produce about 1 million tons of coal per year. The mine

started partial production from 14th April 2002.Commercial production under a

Management, Production and Maintenances Services (M&P) Contract commenced on 10th

September 2005.Under the M&P Contract, coal extraction from two Long wall Faces 1101

and 1106 have successfully been completed. it produced 87142.840 metric ton coal during

2004-2005 and 77520.820 metric ton during July to December 2005.The produced coal is

being delivered to the Barapukuria Coal based Thermal Power Station of PDB. Development

works of the next Long wall Coal Face 1109 is underway. After completion of the

development works, production from the next Long wall is expected to commence in January

2007.

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3.2.3- Lease Area of Barapukuria

Total Lease Area of Barapukuria is about 1050 ha. This Area can be divided in to two part-

1. Barapukuria Coal Basin = 668 ha

Northern Coal Deposit = 271 ha

Southern Coal Deposit = 81.5 ha

Underground Mining Area = 300 ha

Residential Area = 17.57 ha

Industrial Area = 26.94 ha

2. Outside of Basin Area = 382 ha.

Figure: Lease Area of Barapukuri

3.2.4- Barapukuria Coal Mine Development Project

Table: Stage of Project Approval

Stage Approval

Date

Project Cost (Tk. in Lakh) Suppliers

Credits L.C. F.C. Total

PCP 11.03.1992 --- --- 91603

($254.453

Million)

---

PP 21.04.1993 40047.95

($102.68

Million)

48687.6

($124.84

Million)

88735.55

($227.52

Million)

$ 109.24

Million

RPP 15.08.2002 70445.68

($123.59

Million)

72666.98

($127.49

Million)

143112.66

($251.08

Million)

$109.24

Million

Project Period: July 1993 – June 2005

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3.2.5- Construction Contract

Contract Signed on ( Petrobangla & CMC) 77TTHH

FFEEBBRRUUAARRYY 11999944

Contract Price UUSS$$ 119944..9911 MMiilllliioonn

SSuupppplliieerrss CCrreeddiittss UUSS$$ 110099..223355 MMiilllliioonn

GGoovveerrnnmmeenntt ooff BBaannggllaaddeesshh UUSS$$ 8855..667755 MMiilllliioonn

LLooaann 55%%

RReeppaayymmeenntt PPeerriioodd 88 YYeeaarrss

GGrraaccee PPeerriioodd 66 YYeeaarrss

CCoonnttrraacctt EEffffeeccttiivvee FFoorrmm 11SSTT

JJuunnee’’9944

PPhhyyssiiccaall WWoorrkk CCoommmmeenncceedd JJuunnee’’9966

CCoommpplleettiioonn ooff MMiinnee 3311SSTT

MMaayy,, 22000055

3.2.6- Management, Production and Maintenance Services

CCoonnttrraacctt ssiiggnneedd oonn 0044 JJuunnee 22000055 wwiitthh CChhiinnaa NNaattiioonnaall MMaacchhiinneerryy

IImmppoorrtt aanndd EExxppoorrtt CCoorrppoorraattiioonn ((CCMMCC)) aass

lleeaaddeerr ooff CCoonnssoorrttiiuumm

PPrroodduuccttiioonn TTaarrggeett 44..7755 mmiilllliioonn ttoonnnneess ooff ccooaall oovveerr aa ppeerriioodd ooff 7711

mmoonntthhss..

TThhee TToottaall CCoonnttrraacctt PPrriiccee UUSS$$ 5555,,555511,,776666..8866 ++ TTkk..11,, 557722,,772299,,220000..0000

EEqquuiivvaalleenntt ttoo UUSS$$ 8822..3300 MMiilllliioonn..

PPrroodduuccttiioonn SSeerrvviicceess CCoosstt ppeerr ttoonnnnee

ssttaannddss

US$ 11.695 + Tk. 331.10 (Equiv. to US$ 17.326)

OOtthheerr EEssttiimmaatteedd PPrroodduuccttiioonn CCoosstt ppeerr

ttoonnnnee

US $ 35.30. (Based on Production of 5 lakh

tonnes in the year 1)

EEssttiimmaatteedd PPrroodduuccttiioonn CCoosstt ppeerr ttoonnnnee US $ 52.626.

CCooaall SSaallee PPrriiccee ppeerr TToonnnnee ttoo PPDDBB US$ 60.00 (as per EC/NEC decision)

3.2.7- Workforce

Permanent Officers-47 (32 Engrs. & Geo.)

Permanent Staff-41

Contractual Basis-4

Outsourcing-159 (Off-30, Staff-129)

Daily workers-77

Chinese-267 (Offi.-45)

Local- 772 (Atte.-600)

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3.2.8- KPI Status & Security

Barapukuria Coal Mine has been declared as a KPI of Class-“ 1 Ka”

on 5 November 2006

M/s. Al Arafat Services (Pvt.) Ltd. providing security service for

Barapukuria Coal Mine.

Total No. of trained security guards under M/s Al Arafat Services

(Pvt.) Ltd.-73

Overall security activities are supervised by a Security Inspector and

a permanent BCMCL officer.

3.2.9- Discovered Coal Deposit

Total: 2900MMT (77.94 TCF)

Barapukuria: 390 MMT

Khalaspeer: 685 MMT

Jamalgonj: 1,053 MMT

Fulbari: 572 MMT

Dighipara: 200 MMT

BARAPUKURIA Maddhyapara

Joypurhat

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3.2.10- Findings

Basin Area -6.68 KM2

Depth Range -118 to 509M

Total Number of Seam -6

Average Height of 6th

Seam -36.0M

Reserve in Million Tonnes -390

Mineable Reserve in MT -64

Equivalent Gas (Reserve) -10.44TCF

Equivalent Gas (Mineable) -1.72 TCF

3.2.11- Composition, Quality & Use of Coal

Composition:

Ash-12.4%

Moisture-10.0%

Fixed Carbon-48.4%

Volatile Matter-29.2%

Sulpher-0.53%

Coal Quality:

High Quality Bituminus

Calorific Value-11,040 BTU/LB

Use of Coal:

250 MW Power Plants: 65% of Coal

Brick Fields and Domestic Uses: 35% of Coal

3.2.12- Production Target-2007

Table: Production Target-2007 at a glance

Serial No. Longwall Face No. Production Target (MT) Duration

1 1109 2,20,000 Mar-Jul 2007

2 1110 2,60,000 Aug-Nov 2007

3 1103 3,30,000 Sep-Dec 2007

Total 8,10,000

3.2.13- Target vs. Achievement

M&P Contract: 71 months

Contract effective: 14 Dec 2005

Production commenced: Sep 2005

Production stopped: 22 Sep 2006

Production recommenced: 7 Mar 2007

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Figure: Target vs. Achievement

3.2.14- Year Wise Coal Production

Cumulative Production = 7, 06,159 Ton

Figure: Year Wise Coal Production

770,000 970,000

1,020,000

930,000

560,000

500,000

471,341

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6

MT

Prod. Target (MT)

Target Achieved (MT)

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3.2.15- Mining Techniques

The technical and mechanical activities involved in removing coal from the earth and

preparing it for market. Coal mining in the industrialized countries is characterized by the

integration of a number of complex systems into a production methodology that varies for

surface versus underground mining.

The basic systems of the production methodology are the following.

(1) Extraction systems: the methods and techniques used to break out or “win” the coal.

(2) Materials-handling systems: the transport of coal and waste products away from the active

production area, and the transport of the necessary materials, equipment, supplies, and

workers to service the extraction system.

(3) Ventilation: the development and operation of an air distribution system to provide the

quantity, quality, and velocity of air where and when needed, to meet health and safety

requirements.

(4) Ground control: the control of the behavior of underground and surface openings

developed by the extraction of coal.

(5) Reclamation: the restoration of the mined area to its approximate original state or to an

approved state.

In Barapukuria Coal Mine they use room and pillar method to collect coal. Techniques and

machinery used in the mine are-

Shaft:

There are two shafts in the Barapukuria Coal Mine. These are- Main Shaft and Auxiliary Shaft.

Main shaft is 326 m long and auxiliary shaft is 320 m long. These are the way to the

underground. Diameter of each shaft is 5 m. here is a lift in the shaft to carry workers to the

underground. 30 people can move in to it at a time. Coals are lifted from the underground

by these shafts.

Drilling and explosion:

They use drilling machine and explosive to extract coal from the mine. Drilling machine is

very powerful. It has a rod of 1.5 meters length and 10 inches diameter. This rod are placed

on the coal face and when is start to drill it breaks the coal face to pieces. Explosive used in

the coal mine are not much powerful. They detonator in the mine to extract coal.

Underground Roadway:

These road ways are made to move along in the mine. These roads are supported by metal

and wood blocks.

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Hydraulic Powered Roof Support:

They make underground paths and these paths are used to transport coal. Here is rail line for

locomotives. To avoid subsidence and roof fall they use hydraulic powered roof support in

the time of mining. This is very risky.

Coal Transportation:

Coals are transported by small rail cars and bulldozers are used to place these coals correctly.

These coals are dumped in a large area. Trucks and Lorries carry these coals to other places.

Safety Tools:

Workers of the mine use headlight to move in the underground. There are 270 bathrooms in

the maintenance building for the mine workers. They have to bath with hot water after mine

work.

3.2.16- Mine Plan of Barapukuria Coal Mine

Figure: Mine Plan of Barapukuria Coal Mine

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Coal Dump Area

Main Gate of BCMCL

Hydraulic Powered roof Support

Coal Transportation Cars

Underground Roadway

Explosive Charging Drilling Operation

Barapukuria Coal Mine Industrial Area

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4-Types of Natural Resources in the Study Area

There are many types of natural resources in the study area. Coal and hard rocks are main

natural resources in Dinajpur area. Other natural resources are white clay, limestone, metallic

mineral, gravel, boulder, construction sand, glass sand and groundwater.

Map: Natural Mineral Resources in the Study Area

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4.1-Coal

Discovery of coal dates back to late fifties, when an exploratory oil well was drilled through

coal beds in Bogra. Subsequent explorations resulted in the discovery of the Jamalgonj coal

deposit at a depth of about 1,000 metres from the ground level and having an estimated

reserve of more than 1,000 million tons of coal. Feasibility studies have indicated that the

development of this deposit is not yet feasible under the prevailing international market

price. However, with the increase in gas price, these deposits may become competitive. After

evaluation of a detailed geological and geophysical survey, Geological Survey of Bangladesh

(GSB) identified 13 locations in the region of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts as the

prospective basins for coal exploration. Exploratory wells were drilled in 5 basins out of

which high quality bituminous coal deposits were found in 3 basins. In addition, BHP, a

foreign company, also discovered a coal reserve in one basin. In 1984/85, Geological Survey

of Bangladesh located another coal deposit at Khalashpir (Pirgonj) of Rangpur district at a

shallower depth (150 metres), with an estimated reserve of 450 million tons of coal. This

deposit requires to be appraised in respect of its potential.

Besides, minable coal deposit was also discovered in Barapukuria area of Parbatipur,

Dinajpur at a reasonably shallow depth (240 metres) with an estimated reserve of about 300

million tons. Based on this, a project for construction of an underground mine has been

undertaken at an estimated investment of Tk. 8,873.60 million to produce an annual output

of 1 million tons commencing from 2000/01. Recently, another coal deposit has been

discovered by Geological Survey of Bangladesh in Dighirpara area of Dinajpur district

covering an area of about 15 sq. km. As only one well has been drilled, the actual deposit of

coal could not yet be determined.

The GSB has planned to conduct comprehensive exploration activities by the year 2000 in

the following seven basins:

a. Badargonj-II (Rangpur)

b. Basudevpur (Rangpur)

c. Barapukuria-I (Dinajpur)

d. Barapukuria-II (Dinajpur)

e. Daudpur (Dinajpur)

f. Dongapara (Dinajpur)

g. Shamnagar (Dinajpur).

Table: Coalfields and coal quality

Source: Asian Mining Year Book (Seventh Edition), 2001

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4.2- Hard rock

Hard rock was discovered by GSB in Maddhyapara area of Dinajpur District in 1964 at a

depth of 285 metres from surface. An agreement was signed with North Korea in 1993 for

the opening of an underground hard rock mine with a target production of 1.6 million tons

per annum. The hard rock mine is expected to come into operation by the year 2000/01.

Maddhyapara hard rock will be used for river training heavy construction work, railway

ballast, highway, etc. The granite slabs excavated from this mine can also be used as polished

tiles and pavings. Presently these are imported. Considerable import substitution and

increased revenue earning may, therefore, be expected from this rock.

A large deposit of granodiorite, quartz diorite, and gneiss of Precambrian age has been

discovered by GSB at depths ranging from 132 to 160m below surface at Maddhyapara,

Dinajpur. The Rock Quality Designation (RQD) of fresh rock varies from 60% to 100%.

Development of this underground hard rock mine is going on by Nam Nam Co, a North

Korean company. Its production was scheduled to start in 2002 and the annual production

has been estimated to be 1.65 million ton.

4.3- White Clay

There are subsurface deposits of white clay in Maddhyapara, Barapukuria, Dighipara of

Dinajpur district. The exposed white clay is not good in quality. A 6 to 10 feet layer of white

clay on top of basement rock exist at depths ranging from 422 to 513 feet in 4 bore holes in

the Madhyapara area. The clay contains 69% SiO2, 24% Al2O3, and 11% F2O3. It is used in

the ceramic factories of Bangladesh after mixing with high quality imported clay.

4.4- Limestone

Limestone In the early 1960s, a quarry of limestone of Eocene age with a small reserve at

Takerghat in the north eastern part of the country started supplying raw materials to a

cement factory. This was the first mine in the country which was actually a quarry. In the

1960s GSB discovered another limestone deposit in Joypurhat at a depth of about 515-541m

below the surface with a total reserve of 100 million ton. GSB continued its effort to find out

limestone deposits at shallow depth. In the mid 1990s GSB discovered limestone deposit at a

depth of 493-508 and 531-548m below the surface at Jahanpur and Paranagar of Naogaon

respectively. Thickness of these deposits is 16.76m and 14.32m respectively.

4.5- Metallic minerals

Metallic minerals GSB has carried out investigation for mineral deposits and succeeded in

locating a few potential zones. Relatively high content of metallic minerals like chalcopyrite,

bornite, chalcocite, covelline, galena, sphalerite etc have been found in the core samples from

the north-western region of the country.

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4.6- Gravel

Gravel deposits Wide areas of northern and northeastern parts of Bangladesh are covered

with gravel beds. In the north, the gravels are well exposed at Dahagram-Angorpota,

Patgram, Dalia, Chapani, Kaliganj in greater Rangpur and Tetulia, Vazanpur, Boalmari, etc in

greater Dinajpur. These gravels are quite large (maximum recorded elongation is 30 cm) and

are alternated with very coarse to medium sand. They are quite fresh and well rounded, with

a smooth surface. The sphericity and roundness of these gravels are high and they have

quartz, quartzite, granite, gneiss and schist as their dominant lithologies.

4.7- Bolder

The stone which are quarried from soil is mainly bolder sized. This types of stones quarried

from river but lesser than soil. After breaking these stone made two sizes like ¾ and ½ inches.

4.8- Construction sand

Construction sand is very much available in the riverbeds throughout the country. Sand

consists mostly of quartz of medium to coarse grains. It is extensively used as construction

material for buildings, bridges, roads etc all over the country.

4.9- Glass Sand

Glass sand Important deposits of glass sand of the country are at Balijuri (0.64 million ton),

Shahjibazar (1.41 million ton) and Chauddagram (0.285 million ton) at or near the surface,

Maddhyapara (17.25 million ton) and Barapukuria (90.0 million ton) below the surface. Glass

sands consist of fine to medium, yellow to grey quartz.

4.10- Groundwater

Bangladesh Water Development Board, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation

and other concerned agencies of the country carried out hydrological investigations in the

northern part of Bangladesh. The sandstone and pebbly beds of Dupi Tila Formation under

lying thin layers of alluvium and Madhapara clay mostly from the aquifers in the area. The

aquifers are large in extent, variable in thickness and semi confined to unconfined.

Groundwater recharge in the area is derived mainly through deep percolation of rain water.

The whole of Northern Bangladesh is prospective for development of groundwater except

some parts of Bogra and Rajshahi districts where there is a thick cover of Pleistocene fine

sediments.

A large number of irrigation tube wells sunk up to a depth of 300 feet in the northern part of

the area yield 1 to 4 cusec of water and thus brings a large area under effective cultivation.

To harness the groundwater to boost up agricultural production in the Northern Bangladesh

on a large scale BWDB, BADC and other agencies are implementing a number of projects.

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Coal Gravel

Boulder Granite

White Clay Limestone

Glass Sand Construction Sand

Figure: Some Natural Mineral Resources of the Study Area

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5- Potential Hazards in the Study Area

5.1- Potential Hazards in Coal Mine

Historically, coal mining has been a very dangerous activity. Open cut hazards are principally

slope failure, underground mining roof collapse and gas explosions. Most of these risks can be

greatly reduced in modern mines. Some common hazards in the coal mine are-

5.1.1-Hazardous gas

Build-ups of a hazardous gas are known as damps, possibly from the German word "Dampf"

which means steam or vapor:

Black damp: a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen in a mine can cause suffocation

After damp: similar to black damp, an after damp consists of carbon dioxide and

nitrogen and forms after a mine explosion

Fire damp: consists of mostly methane, a flammable gas

Stink damp: so named for the rotten egg smell of the sulfur, a stink damp can explode

White damp: mainly carbon monoxide, suffocates like black damp (Also, Carbon

monoxide is very toxic, even in concentrations as low as 5 ppm)

5.1.2- Coal dust

Coal dust is a fine powdered form of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can

be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal.

Coal dust suspended in air is explosive. Coal dust has far more surface area per unit weight

than chunks of coal, and is more susceptible to spontaneous combustion. As a result, a nearly

empty coal store is a greater explosion risk than a full one.

Coal workers' Pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, is caused by inhaling coal dust, typically

dust produced in coal mining.

5.1.3- Coal fires

There are hundreds of coal fires burning around the world.[19]

Those burning underground can

be difficult to locate and many cannot be extinguished. Fires can cause the ground above to

subside, combustion gases are dangerous to life, and breaking out to the surface can initiate

surface wildfires. Coal seams can be set on fire by spontaneous combustion or contact with a

mine fire or surface fire. A grass fire in a coal area can set dozens of coal seams on fire.

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5.1.4- Coal burning

Combustion of coal, like any other fossil fuel, produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen

oxides (NOx) along with varying amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) depending on where it was

mined. Sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide (SO3), which then reacts with

water to form sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid is returned to the Earth as acid rain.

5.1.5- Emissions from coal-fired power plants

Emissions from coal-fired power plants represent the largest source of carbon dioxide

emissions, which have been implicated as the primary cause of global warming. Coal mining

and abandoned mines also emit methane, another cause of global warming. Since the carbon

content of coal is much higher than oil, burning coal is a more serious threat to the stability of

the global climate, as this carbon forms CO2 when burned. Many other pollutants are present

in coal power station emissions, as solid coal is more difficult to clean than oil, which is

refined before use. To eliminate CO2 emissions from coal plants, carbon capture and storage

has been proposed but has yet to be commercially used.

5.1.6- Coal and coal waste products

Coal and coal waste products including fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and flue gas

desulfurization contain many heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel,

vanadium, beryllium, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, zinc, selenium and

radium, which are dangerous if released into the environment. Coal also contains low levels

of uranium, thorium, and other naturally-occurring radioactive isotopes whose release into

the environment may lead to radioactive contamination. While these substances are trace

impurities, enough coal is burned that significant amounts of these substances are released,

resulting in more radioactive waste than nuclear power plants.

5.1.7- Faulty Design

Barapukuria coal mine are vulnerable to accidents due to faulty geological and hydrological

designs and lack of proper working condition, said the probe body formed following the

incident in which a British consultant died in the mine recently.

High temperature and excessive humidity, absence of efficient rescuers and lack of monitoring

system led to the April 26 incident that claimed the life of mining consultant Albert Banes

Davis, said the probe report submitted to Petrobangla on Tuesday. Davis, 62, died 430

metres underground in the mine.

5.1.8- Depletion of subsoil

The alarming depletion of subsoil water table in Barapukuria coal mine area could be easily

halved if the mine and its power plant shared the same water pumps, instead of using

separate sets and wasting 2,500 tonnes of water per hour.

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5.1.9- Waste Water

According to tests carried out by geology and mining department of Rajshahi University, and

coal mine sources, untreated waste water from Barapukuira coal mine contains poisonous

coal dust [carbon], rock dust, sulphur [S], phosphorus [P], arsenic [Ar] and magnesium [Mg].

The mine authorities however claim that there are no poisonous chemicals like sulphur,

arsenic, phosphorus and magnesium in the waste water.

The coal mine and the 250 megawatt coal-fired power plant are separately pumping out an

unbelievable 2,500 tonnes of water per hour round the clock. This water is being fully wasted

while 15 villages around the project area have gone completely dry in the last 10 months.

Almost all the hand-pumped tube-wells in these villages have gone dry, and ground water

table has gone down to 150-200 feet from 50-60 feet previously. Of the 2,500 tonnes of

water, the power plant pumps out 1,300 tonnes, uses it for power generation and then

wastes it through a discharge channel. The coal mine pumps out another 1,200 tonnes of

water just to keep the mine dry.

5.1.10- Cropland Damage

On exchange of opinions with farmers of the affected villages, The Daily Star got the

impression that 30 to 40 per cent croplands of these villages use polluted water from the

projects.

About 70 croplands in Kalupara and other areas around Barapukuria mine in Parbatipur

upazila of Dinajpur are now vulnerable to subsidence, according to mining sources. Earlier in

May, about 1.2 square km area of four affected villages subsided.

Operating without any pollution treatment facility, the mine and the plant are pumping out

untreated waste and chemicals to the adjacent areas through a sluice gate and a seven-km-

long canal. As a result, water bodies in the areas have become polluted and fertility of topsoil

of four villages is being greatly harmed. Most of the affected villagers said ground water level

has fallen by 80 to 120 feet in different places. Instead of pumping out water by sinking 50 to

65 feet long pipes, now they must sink up to 200 feet long pipe to get water, they say.

5.2- Potential Hazards in Hard Rock Mine

Hard rock mining is much safer than that of coal mining. Hazardous gas problem is very

uncommon in the hard rock mine. Waste water from the underground is not much harmful

for the crops. Local people said that this water increase the fertility of the land. Land slide and

subsidence are also occurring very less than the coal mine. Hard rock mining is a safe mining.

And it doesn’t have much potential hazards.

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6- Importance of these Mining Areas

The total reserves of coal of the three coal fields discovered at Barapukuria, Khalaspir and

Jamalgonj, respectively is 1753 million tons. From 2000–2001, full-fledged extraction of coal

from the Barapukuria coal mine will start, and the target of extraction of coal per day is

3,300 metric tons i.e., 1.2 million tons per year. At the above rate, 64 years will be required

to extract 300 million tons of coal from Barapukuria. As Barapukuria coal is of a high quality

bituminous type, having a heating value of 11,040 BTU/Ib with low sulfur content, it is good

for combustion to produce power. In power generation, 80% of the coal will be used for this

purpose, and there is a plan to build a power plant with a 300 MW capacity at the village of

Sherpur near the Barapukuria coal field. As a result, the electrification problems of northern

Bangladesh will be solved, and both industrial and agricultural sectors will benefit from

electrification. The remaining 20% of the coal will be used in brick fields and for household

purposes. The qualities and various uses of coal are shown in Tables below. At present, most

of the people of Bangladesh use wood and other plant materials to generate energy, and this

causes deforestation and destruction of wild life, which are great threats to the environment.

All these are again responsible for the imbalance of the environmental ecosystem. Not only

that, drought, created by deforestation, affects agricultural land, and continuation of this may

ruin the national production. Proper utilization of coal from Barapukuria will solve the

energy problems and at the same time will help to stop wide-spread deforestation and keep

the environmental ecosystems balanced, thus helping to upgrade the economic condition of

the country.

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7- Environmental impacts and mitigation

7.1- Environmental impacts

Coal mining causes adverse environmental impacts. These include:

1. Release of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas

2. Interference with groundwater and water table levels

3. Impact of water use on flows of rivers and consequential impact on other land-uses

4. Dust

5. Subsidence above tunnels, sometimes damaging infrastructure

6. Rendering land unfit for the common usage of the area.

7. Environmental issues can include erosion,

8. Formation of sinkholes,

9. Loss of biodiversity, and

10. Contamination of groundwater and surface water by chemicals from the mining

process and products.

7.2- Mitigation

Improvements in mining methods (e.g. longwall mining), hazardous gas monitoring (such as

safety-lamps or more modern electronic gas monitors), gas drainage, and ventilation have

reduced many of the risks of rock falls, explosions, and unhealthy air quality. Statistical

analyses performed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration

(MSHA) show that between 1990 and 2004, the industry cut the rate of injuries (a measure

comparing the rate of incidents to overall number of employees or hours worked) by more

than half and fatalities by two-thirds following three prior decades of steady improvement.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, coal mining is not even among the top 10 most

dangerous occupations in America per capita. Pilots, truck and taxi drivers, loggers, fishermen,

roofers and other occupations face greater on the job risks than coal miners.

Modern mining companies in some countries are required to follow environmental and

rehabilitation codes, ensuring the area mined is returned to close to its original state. In some

countries with pristine environments, such as large parts of Australia, this is impossible despite

the best intentions. Some mining methods have devastating environmental and public health

effects.

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8- Conclusion

The discovery of such huge deposits of coal and hard rock is a blessing for Bangladesh, and

proper development of these resources will open a new era for the country to enter the

industrial world. In the modern world, the sustainable economic conditions of any nation

depend on how developed that country's industrial is, especially in the field of mineral

resources. So, minerals based industries are an important factor for accelerating the economic

growth of a country. Now, Bangladesh has an opportunity to build up mineral-based

industries as she has sufficient mineral resources on which industries can develop. Full-capacity

exploitation of these resources will create thousands of new jobs at the mine sites and later on

at industrial sites, which will help to alleviate the country's poverty by providing jobs. All

these together will accelerate the country's economic development. It may be concluded that

proper development and utilization of these resources will help us to save a considerable

amount of foreign currency and will contribute a great deal to the national economy and

reshape our socio-economic infrastructure.

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9- References

Books & Journals:

1. Bangladesh Journal of Geology, Vol.19, p.35-43, Dhaka, 2000.

2. Bangladesh Journal of Geology, Vol.24, p.1-17, Dhaka, 2005.

3. Afia Akhtar, 2000. Coal and hard rock resources in Bangladesh, 25-28pp.

4. The Cost and Management, Vol. 34 No. 2, March-April 2006, pp. 53-67

5. Khan F.H. 1991. Geology of Bangladesh. 33-40.

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1. http://thedailystar.net/2007/05/05/d705051501113.htm

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condition/

5. http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/B_0297.htm

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14. http://svr87.edns1.com/~starnet/2007/05/26/d7052601044.htm