In the district of Surguja, Bauxite deposits have been found in tertiary rocks from times immemorial. It is due to decay and weathering of aluminium rich rocks, Felspar usually kaoliniesd under the tropical monsoonal condition as the weathering goes a step further and result in residua rich in hydroxides of aluminium together with oxides of Iron, manganese and titanium sufficient contraction of aluminium hydroxides, economic deposits of bauxite originates. This process of 'Bauxitisation' as it is called thrives well on topographically elevated well drained plateaus of low relief. The recoverable reserves of bauxite in Surguja are 57.54 million tones, which is around 57% of total state reserve. Out of 57.74 million tones, 42.21 million tones are under proved category, 13.56 million tones under probable category and remaining 1.76 million tones under are possible category. About 51 million tones of the total reserves are of metallurgical grade and the grade particular of 6 million tones are not known. The economical deposits are located at entire pat (local name given to plateau or pleatux) region of eastern and south eastern Surguja including Mainpat, Samari and Jamirapat. Mainpat Bauxite is of good and thickness varies from 4-5 meters. Chemical composition is Jamirapat & Samripat. Bauxite deposits of these areas are metallurgical grade I. These two major reserves are centred in Samri tahsil and adjacent plateaus - Jamripat, Jaranpat, Lahsunpat, Jonkapat and other small hill rocks. Most of the coal in the Gondwana is found in Barakar series. Coal as a solid stratified rock composed mainly of hydro carbon and capable of being used as a fuel to supply heat or light or both. The coal fields of Surguja belong to Gondwana coal fields. The coal of this area is of good quality stream and gas coals. The coal fields of Surguja can be classified as Middle Gondwana Coal Fields: Tatapani-Ramkola, Jhilmili and Sonhat Talcher Coal Fields: Bisrampur, Bansar, Lakhanpur, Panchbhaini and Damha-munda. Mahanadi River Basin: Hasdo-Rampur. |