Neyveli Lignite Research Articles

Bucket wheel excavator performances at Neyveli Lignite Mine

Bucket-wheel excavators have been in use at the Neyveli Lignite Mine in the State of Tamil Nadu, India, since the early nineteen-sixties. The mining environment has been particularly harsh for BWE application. The adverse influencing factors are the hardness of the overburden formation, high abrasivity of rock and artesian ground water conditions. In this paper, the performances of the BWEs at Neyveli have been statistically analysed to determine the effects of physico-mechanical properties of overburden, blasting and rainfall on machine productivity, availability, wear-and-tear of bucket teeth, power consumption, production efficiency and cost of mining. An empirical relationship between the production efficiency, defined as the ratio of actual production rate to the theoretical one, and the bench height and width, height of slices, specific cutting resistance of the overburden material and its clay content, consumption of explosives, and conveyor length has been established.

A carnonised wood resembling Parinari from the Neyveli Lignite deposits, India

A carbonized wood showing close resemblance with that of Parinari (Parinarium) belonging to the sub-family Chrysobalanoidae of Rosaceae has been described from the Neyveli Lignite deposits. It is named Parinarioxylon neyveliensis sp. nov. The occurrence of Parinari is also indicative of tropical humid conditions in this area at the time of its deposition.

Newer mining technology and plans for increased use of lignite in India

The total inferred reserves of lignite in India are about 3680 million t, out of which the Neyveli Lignite Field in Tamil Nadu State, South India, accounts for 3300 million t. This field is mined by the mechanized opencast method, using bucket wheel excavator-belt conveyor-spreader continuous mining technology. The lignite is mainly used for power generation. The present level of lignite production is 6.5 million t/yr. The mining of lignite at Neyveli is faced with major problems like tackling hard, abrasive Cuddalore sandstone overburden, high pressure aquifers below lignite seams and high monsoonic storm water. These problems have been successfully overcome in stages, and the mine has achieved very high capacity utilization during 1984–1985. Up to March 1985, about 83.8 million t of lignite have been mined from this field. Taking into consideration the future demand for power in the energy-starved southern region, Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) plans to develop a second mine producing 10.5 million t/yr of lignite, and is also considering opening new mines to increase lignite output to 32 million t/yr by the year 2000. Measures are also being taken to maintain the environmental quality in the mining and industrial complex.

Fungal remains from Neyveli Lignites, South India

The fungal remains recovered from Neyveli Lignite, South India include a few fungal spores as well as fruiting bodies belonging to Myxomycetes, Chytridiales, Deuteromycetes, Microthyriaceae and Ascomycetes. Attempts have been made to trace out their affinities with the present forms. The forms which are not assignable to any modern forms are kept under the artificial classification.

Sclerosperma-Type pollen grains from the Neyveli Lignite of India

Pollen grains similar to those of African palm, Sclerosperma manii Wendl., has been described from the Neyveli lignite. The occurrence of this African palm in the Early to Middle Tertiary of India is significant from the viewpoint of the palaeoclimate of the Indian subcontinent and the palaeogeographical distribution of Sclerosperma.

Some contribution to the palaeobotany of Neyveli lignite, South India

A comparative analysis of the dispersed plant remains consisting of woody and non-woody tissues, pollen grains and spores from the Tertiary lignite of Neyveli, South India, has revealed that the lignite has been formed from a predominantly angiospermous vegetation. The affinities of the fossil material represented either by pollen grains or other organic tissues show a large assemblage of dicotyledonous taxa. After a critical study of the hitherto known fossil flora from the deposit, the characteristic families which form the source vegetation of the lignite are Legnminosae, Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Sapotaceae, Ebenaceae, Guttiferae, Dipterocarpaceae, Combretaceae, Gramineae, Palmae and some aquatic taxa (probably belonging to Nymphaeaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Lecythidaceae and Potamogetonaceae). Apart from the above taxa, ferns and fungi represented by miospores, microstructures and microplanktons also occur in the lignite. The evidences provided by the fossil material and by the petrologic nature of the lignite suggest the existence of a warm humid, tropical to subtropical climatic condition during the formation of the deposit. The occurrence of fresh water forms coupled with mangrove elements indicate the formation of the lignite probably at the confluence of the river with the sea during the Tertiary period.

Microfossil Analysis of Neyveli Lignite by Polished Surface Technique

Microscopic examination of the polished surface lignite blocks has revealed well preserved microfossils. Different types of dispersed plant tissues such as parenchyma, sclerenchyma, fibres, vessels and cork cells have been recognized apart from spores and pollen, fungal remains and woody structures. The microconstitution of the lignite indicates peaty, woody, lignitic or brown coaly layers suggesting heterogeneous formation of the lignite deposit.

Studies on the effect of the "Complex Fertiliser of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation on Paddy Yield and on some Soil Properties of Cauvery Alluvium

Nitrogen and Phosphorus are two of the most important nutrients for crop production. Many compound fertilisers containing these two nutrients in various proportions have been manufactured under different names by the Fertiliser Industry. Several compound fertilisers like ammonium phosphate, nitrophosphate and others under different proprietory names have been put in the market. Experiments conducted with ammonium phosphate (Anon., 1945-48) at Aduthurai and Pattukkottai during the Kuruvai, Thaladi and Samba seasons have shown that there was no signi- ficant difference between ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulphate-. cum-super application on paddy yields. At the Paddy Breeding Station, Coimbatore (Anon., 1964) another compound fertiliser called "Engrais" Fertiliser (containing 8-3 per cent N and 14 per cent P₂O) was compared against ammonium sulphate-cum-super application and it was found to be inferior to the ammonium sulphate-cum-super combination on equal N and P₂O, basis for paddy. However, according to Zemite (1963), the compound fertilisers produce about the same yields as combinations of single fertilisers supplying equivalent amounts of nutrients. Recently, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation has developed a "Complex Fertiliser". The effect of this "Neyveli Complex Fertiliser " on paddy yield and also on the soil (Cauvery alluvium) was studied at the Regional Research Station, Aduthurai for three years from 1962-63 to 1964-65 and the results are presented.

Pollen and spore from Neyveli Lignite, South India

The paper describes some fossil pollen grains and spores from the Neyveli lignite. The fossil grains have been compared to their nearest modern equivalents. The families to which the fossil sporomorphs belong are Caprifoliaceae, Cruciferae, Gentianaceae, Labiatae, Meliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Santalaceae, Gramineae, Liliaceae and Polypodiaceae.