Describe the distribution of coal in India.
In India, coal occurs in rock series of two main geological ages. The first is Gondwana, which is a little over 200 million years old, and the second is tertiary deposits, which are about 55 million years old.
The major resources of Gondwana coal are metallurgical coal. These are located in the Damodar valley spanning West Bengal and Jharkhand. The important coalfields in this region include Jharia, Raniganj, and Bokaro.
Apart from the Damodar valley, the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys also contain coal deposits.
The tertiary coals occur in the north eastern states of India. These states include Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
Since coal is a bulky material which loses weight on use as it is reduced to ash, heavy industries and thermal power stations are located on or near the coalfields.
Explanation
This answer covers all aspects of coal distribution in India as mentioned in the textbook. It addresses both geological ages (Gondwana and Tertiary), specific locations (Damodar valley, various river valleys, and northeastern states), named coalfields (Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro), and the relationship between coal location and industry placement. The answer is structured in 5 paragraphs with key terms bolded for emphasis.