One often reads that the JCF contains the “prime coking coal reserves” of the country. What exactly is coking coal?
As described in the ‘coal atlas of India’, some coals on heating suitable swell and fuse to form a hard and porous mass called coke which can provide concentrated heat and withstand some pressure. Such coals are called coking coals and are used extensively in metallurgical industry. Coals lacking this property are called non-coking and are used in power, railway, fertilizer and other industries. Both coking and non-coking coals contain various amounts of mineral matter or ash which adversely affects the heat-giving capability.
