Coal quality and occurrence in areas of western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, using GPR and electrical resistivity methods

Mineral resources play an important part in the development of a country. Pakistan being an energy deficient country, is blessed with several energy mineral resources in the form of coal and uranium, with its unique location (at collision of major tectonic plates) and depositional settings. Pakistan is sanctified in the distribution of coal-bearing formations in its different parts. This distribution, if properly demarcated and utilized, can play a vital role in meeting the energy requirements of the country. The present study integrates geophysical methods (electrical resistivity and ground penetrating radar) with geological data to delineate thickness, identify depth and hosting lithologies of coal beds/seams in Akkakhel (A khel ), Akhorwal (A wal ) and Sheikhan (S khan ) areas of western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. To achieve the desired goal, resistivity soundings coupled with GPR profiles were correlated with geological boreholes. The resistivity datasets indicate intermediate and high values for coal seams embedded in shale and dry sandstone patches, respectively. Furthermore, high resistivity values associated with coal seams indicate good coal quality in depth due to thermal maturity in S khan area. The results of ground penetrating radar also justified the similar depositional pattern (due to continuity of reflectors) associated with interplay between terrestrial and marine agents. The borehole data revealed most of the coal seams occurred in Hangu and Samana Suk sandstone beds. The integrated results portray that low-quality coal occurred at shallow depth (6–25 m) in all three areas, whereas high-quality coal was only found in the S khan area due to more depth and thermal maturity. This study will add useful information for the researchers, mining engineers and industries for the exploration of coal in unknown regions of A khel , A wal and S khan of Kohat, Pakistan. Research Highlights The integration has turn out to be an effective interpretation regarding coal occurrence, distribution and quality. The overall environment of deposition interpreted was beach environment. Alluvial cover was only present in A khel area due to depiction of eroded sediments. Resistivity indicated high values, whereas GPR indicated strong signal in good quality coal. High-quality coal lies below the depth of 25m in all the areas. Coal quality in S khan and A wal is more better as compared to the A khel area.