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Geological mapping of Jharia Coalfield,
India using GRACE EGM2008 gravity
data: a vertical derivative approach
Jitendra Vaish
a
& S.K. Pal
a
a
Department of Applied Geophysics, Indian School of Mines,
Dhanbad, India
Accepted author version posted online: 14 Apr 2014.Published
online: 12 May 2014.
To cite this article: Jitendra Vaish & S.K. Pal (2014): Geological mapping of Jharia Coalfield, India
using GRACE EGM2008 gravity data: a vertical derivative approach, Geocarto International, DOI:
10.1080/10106049.2014.905637
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2014.905637
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Geological mapping of Jharia Coaleld, India using GRACE
EGM2008 gravity data: a vertical derivative approach
Jitendra Vaish and S.K. Pal*
Department of Applied Geophysics, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India
(Received 22 May 2013; nal version received 10 March 2014)
High-resolution satellite gravity data of gravity recovery and climate experiment
(GRACE) generated by Earth Gravity Model-2008 (EGM2008) have been utilised
for geological mapping of the Jharia coaleld. The generated GRACE EGM2008
classical gravity data have been processed for estimation of gravity anomaly map.
The gravity anomaly map has been enhanced using the rst and second Vertical
Derivatives techniques. Geological and structural maps of the study area have been
overlapped over different derivative maps to analyse the correlation with the subsur-
face geological structures of the study area. Major distinct geological signatures, on
different derivative maps, are correlated well with the existing geological map.
Moreover, vertical derivative maps of the gravity data generated from GRACE
EGM2008 model provide better agreement and understanding for geological setting
of the Jharia coaleld.
Keywords: EGM2008; vertical derivative; prole analysis; geological mapping;
Jharia coaleld
1. Introduction
The utilisation of high-resolution satellite gravity model data for geological exploration
and tectonic studies is an emergent area of research. With advancement of recent tech-
nology, different state-of-the-art satellite-based gravity models are developed by various
researchers (Pavlis & Rapp 1990; Rummel et al. 2002; Pavlis et al. 2007, 2008; Tapley,
et al. 2007; Forste et al. 2008; Andersen et al. 2009; Pail et al. 2010, Ries et al. 2011,
Steffen et al. 2011; Pavlis et al. 2012) for understanding Earths Geological and Geody-
namical processes.
The gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) gravity data can improve the
understanding and modelling of the Earths interior and its dynamic processes, contribut-
ing to new insights into the geodynamics associated with the lithosphere, mantle compo-
sition, and uplift and subduction processes. With careful processing and integration with
additional gravimetric data, high- resolution satellite gravity data can be used to study
sedimentary basins and to assist in hydrocarbon exploration of under-explored areas
(Majumdar & Bhattacharyya 2005; Majumdar et al. 2006; Steffen et al. 2011; Abdul
Fattah et al. 2013). GRACE gravity data, in combination with other data, could be useful
for identication of the structure and composition of the crust and the lithosphere. The
recent GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity data will provide a state-of-the-art gravity
anomaly map of an area and can be utilised for a novel means of improved structural
*Corresponding author. Email: sanjitism@gmail.com
2014 Taylor & Francis
Geocarto International, 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2014.905637
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mapping for better understanding of gravitational imprint of different lithological units,
lineaments, dykes, faults, and seismotectonic set-up of a region (Braitenberg & Ebbing
2009; Braitenberg et al. 2011; Pal & Majumdar 2012a, 2012b; Vaish & Pal 2012; Abdul
Fattah et al. 2013). The classical gravity anomaly is the magnitude of the gradient of the
downward continued potential on the geoid minus the magnitude of the gradient of the
normal potential on the ellipsoid (Scientic Technical Report STR09/02, http://icgem.
gfz-potsdam.de, www.gfz-postsdam.de -News-GFZ Publication).
The GRACE carries twin satellites separated from each other by a distance of 220
km and orbiting the earth 16 times a day at an altitude of 500 km. As the front satellite
approaches an area of higher gravity, due to the high-density material underneath it is
pulled towards the area of higher gravity this causes it to and speed up. This increases
the distance between the two satellites. As the satellites pass the area of higher gravity,
the front satellite will slow down and the rear satellite will speed up. During continuous
rotation of the twin satellites, the relative speeding up and slowing down between them
are measured by a microwave K-band-ranging instrument and this is then utilised to
map the Earths gravitational eld (http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/).
EGM2008 is generated by assimilation of GRACE satellite gravity data, ancillary
terrestrial data and altimetry data. This is a spherical harmonic model of the Earths
gravitational potential, developed by a least squares combination of the ITG-
GRACE03S gravitational model and its associated error covariance matrix, with the
gravitational information obtained from a global set of area-mean free air-gravity anom-
alies dened on a 5 arc-minute equiangular grid. This grid was formed by merging ter-
restrial, altimetry-derived, and airborne gravity data. Over areas where only lower
resolution gravity data were available, their spectral content was supplemented with
gravitational information implied by the topography. EGM2008 is complete to degree
and order 2159, and contains additional coefcients up to degree 2190 and order 2159
(Pavlis et al. 2012).
In the context of complex geological set-up of Jharia coaleld, the present study
has been carried out for evaluation of GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity data to infer
geological mapping. The present study deals mainly with twofold objectives: (i) utilisa-
tion of the high- resolution GRACE gravity data generated by Earth Gravity Model-
2008 for delineation and correlation of lithological units using vertical derivatives and
(ii) understanding of different tectonic set-up of the Jharia coaleld using vertical deriv-
atives of GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity data.
2. General geological set-up of the study area
During initial stages of the Jharia basin formation, at the time of Talchir formation,
major parts of Jharia basin were positive areas except northern and north-western
fringes. During lower Barakar formation, the Jharia basin was completely subsided; ini-
tial stages of the subsidence took place due to down-warping of the basinal oor. The
pattern of the basin subsidence from middle Barakar and onwards began to be
increasingly modied by contemporaneous faulting (Fox 1930; Sengupta 1980; Ghosh
& Mukhopadhyay 1985). The southern boundary fault was initiated along a small seg-
ment of the Jharia basin during Upper Barakar formation and extended along recent
southern boundary with the deposition of Barakar measures. Jharia basin underwent a
sharp change due to subsidence during the Barren measure formation.
2 J. Vaish and S.K. Pal
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An EW trending-elongated sub-basin developed as a stretching axis from Dugda
in the west to Jamadoba in the east. Maximum subsidence occurred along Mahuda.
The southern edge of the basin was marked by the appearance of an elongated ridge on
the basinal oor which is the ParbatpurPatherdih ridge separating the Bhojudih
Figure 1. Geological map of the study area (modied after Paul & Chatterjee 2011).
Table 1. Generalised stratigraphic succession of Jharia coaleld (modied after Chandra 1992).
Age Formation Litho-type
Max.
thickness
Recent and sub-
recent
Weathered Alluvium, sandy soil, clay, gravel, etc. 30 m
Unconformity
Jurassic Deccan trap and
other igneous
activity (intrusive)
Dolerite dykes, mica lamprophyre dyke
and sills
Upper Permian Raniganj Fine grained feldspathic sandstones,
shales with coal seam
800 m
Middle Permian Barren Measure Buff coloured sandstone, shales and
carbonaceous shales
730 m
Lower Permian Barakar Buff coloured coarse to medium grained
feldspathic sandstones, grits, shales,
carbonaceous shale and coal seam
+ 1250 m
Upper
Carboniferous
Talchir Greenish shale and ne grained
sandstones
245 m
Unconformity
Archeans Metamorphics
Geocarto International 3
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sub-basin situated in the south-eastern end of the Jharia coaleld. Along the
Raniganjbarren measures contact boundary around Mahuda, an elliptical basin is
formed. This resulted due to the subsidence of barren measures as well as faulting. The
Bamangora fault demarcates the boundary of the barren measures and Raniganj forma-
tion (Chatterjee & Ghosh, 1970; Chandra 1992). The Jharia coaleld forms a part of
eastwest trending-gondwana basins of the Damodar valley in the north-eastern part of
the India.
The rock formations of Jharia coaleld unconformably overlying the archean base-
ment, mainly belong to the Lower Gondwana group of Permian age comprising Talchir,
Barakar, Barren measures and Raniganj formations, from bottom to top (Fox 1934;
Mehta & Murthy 1957). Tectonically, Gondwana coaleld basin was formed by the
down-faulting of the crystalline basement oor, boundaries of which are marked by
high-angle normal faults of enchelon type (Chandra 1992). In addition, to these mar-
ginal faults, there are several inter-basinal gravity faults within the basin resulting in
dislocation of coal seams and dolerite dykes and mica-peridotite dykes, as well as sills
that are in close association with faults and coal seams (Verma et al. 1979). A simpli-
ed geological map of Jharia coaleld is shown in Figure 1 (Paul & Chatterjee 2011)
and general stratigraphic succession (modied after Chandra 1992) is given in Table 1.
3. Methodology
GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity anomaly data have been generated using calcula-
tion service (http://icgem.gfz-potsdam.de/ICGEM/) of International Centre for Global
Earth Models at a grid interval of 0.1 0.1. The topography-reduced Bouguer gravity
anomaly data have been generated by subtracting the Bouguer plate (2GH=
0.1119H, G is universal gravity constant, is constant density = 2.67 g/cm
3
, H is topo-
graphical height in m) from the generated gravity anomaly data (Scientic Technical
Report STR09/02, http://icgem.gfz-potsdam.de/ICGEM/). Topography model of ASTER
GDEM has been re-gridded at an interval of 0.1 0.1 as used in the corrections.
Finally, surface grid map of Bouguer gravity anomaly map has been generated using
Kriging interpolation method.
The extracted gravity anomaly has been processed and analysed in advanced Geosoft,
Oasis Montaj software using First Vertical and Second Vertical Derivatives techniques.
In the present study, rst and second Vertical Derivative have been generated from
EGM2008 gravity anomaly map using Geosoft; and, further, surface grid map has been
generated using Kriging interpolation method (Pal et al. 2006). Generally derivatives of
gravity anomaly enhance shallow bodies, remove the regional and suppress deeper ones.
First vertical derivatives emphasise near surface features. The second vertical derivative
enhances near surface effects at the expense of deeper anomalies. Second derivatives
measure curvature. The large curvatures are associated with shallow anomalies.
A rst vertical derivative is obtained through the computation of second horizontal
derivatives of vertical-integrated potential eld and through the application of Laplace
equation. Second vertical derivative is obtained through the computation of second
horizontal derivatives of the potential eld following Laplace equation (Agarwal & Lal
1969; Gupta & Ramani 1982; Blakely 1995):
O
2
g @
2
g=@x
2
@
2
g=@y
2
@
2
g=@z
2
0
@
2
g=@z
2
@
2
g=@x
2
@
2
g=@y
2
(1)
4 J. Vaish and S.K. Pal
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Enhanced derivative maps of gravity data have been imported in Erdas Imagine
platform. The anomaly maps have been generated using Non-linear Rubber sheeting
interpolation method. The vector map of lithounits and structural features has been
generated and superimposed over the enhanced map. Two prospective gravity proles
have been selected over the study area along AA
/
and BB
/
in Figure 2. Both the gravity
proles have been analysed to infer lithological units/lithological boundaries/structural
features and faults/lineaments, over some prominent geological structures using Spatial
Figure 2. GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity anomaly map of the study area. Lithological
boundary map and structural features have been superimposed.
Geocarto International 5
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prole tool of Erdas Imagine. Finally, geological map of the area has been
superimposed on the derivative maps of GRACE EGM2008 gravity data in ArcGIS
platform for further understanding and analysing of the correlation with the subsurface
geological structures of the area (Pal et al. 2006).
Figure 3. In situ Bouguer gravity contours are overlaid on GRACE EGM2008 Bouguer gravity
anomaly map of the study area. Lithological boundary map and structural features have been
superimposed.
6 J. Vaish and S.K. Pal
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4. Results and discussion
GRACE EGM2008 classical gravity anomaly map is shown in Figure 2. The Bouguer
gravity anomaly map of the study area has been generated from GRACE EGM2008
classical gravity anomaly data, as shown in Figure 3. In situ Bouguer anomaly map
Figure 4. First vertical derivative map generated from GRACE EGM2008 Bouguer gravity data
of the study area. Lithological boundary map and structural feature have been superimposed.
Geocarto International 7
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(NGRI 1978; Singh et al. 2004) has been digitised and overlaid on GRACE EGM2008
Bouguer gravity anomaly map of the study area (Figure 3). Geological map of the area
has been superimposed over the gravity anomaly map (Figure 3). In situ Bouguer
anomaly varies from 35 to 5 mgal with standard deviation of 11.8 mgal and GRACE
EGM2008 Bouguer gravity anomaly varies 34 to 1 mgal with standard deviation of
12.2 mgal. The correlation coefcient and covariance between the Bouguer gravity
Figure 5. Second vertical derivative map generated using GRACE EGM2008 gravity data of
study area. Lithological map and different Structural units has been superimposed.
8 J. Vaish and S.K. Pal
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anomaly distribution of in situ data and GRACE EGM2008 data for entire study area
are 0.86 and 94.4, respectively. A prominent low gravity corresponding to Raniganj
formation has been identied from Figure 3. Relative high-gravity anomalies have been
observed over other lithounits. First Vertical Derivative map and Second Vertical Deriv-
ative map generated from GRACE EGM2008 gravity data of the study area are shown
in Figures 4 and 5, respectively. Geological and the structural maps of the study area
have been superimposed on both the maps. Prole plots of GRACE EGM2008 and
in situ Bouguer gravity anomaly distribution along the prole AA
/
and along the prole
BB
/
are shown in Figure 6. The results show that the correlation coefcient between
the Bouguer gravity anomaly distribution of in situ data and GRACE EGM2008 for
the prole AA
/
and prole BB
/
are 0.91 and 0.98, respectively. Prole plots of rst ver-
tical derivative and second vertical derivative of gravity anomaly distribution along
AA
/
(86.26, 23.63 (A)86.40, 23.87 (A
/
)) and BB
/
(86.11, 23.77 (B)86.52,
23.64 (B
/
)) are shown in Figures 7 and 8, respectively. Different lithological units/
boundary and structural units have been delineated as observed with distinct bends or
changes in the slope in the spectrum. For better understanding of the Prole plots, the
starting points of the proles AA
/
(RD 030 km) and BB
/
(RD 043 km) have been
treated as reduced distance (RD) of zero km and end points as RD of 30 and 43 km,
respectively. Southern Boundary Fault, BarrenMeasures, Barren Measures-Barakar
Beds Contact Boundary, Fault within Barakar beds, Talchir Formation and Archaean
Distance (km) 86.11
0
, 23.77
0
(B) 86.52
0
, 23.64
0
(B
/
)
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(
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Distance (Km)
(a)
(b)
Figure 6. Plots of Bouguer gravity anomaly distribution (a) along AA
/
and (b) along BB
/
for
GRACE EGM2008 and in situ data.
Geocarto International 9
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Basement are delineated near at RD 7, 9, 15, 18, 21 and 23 km, respectively, along the
prole AA
/
from Figures 7(a) and 8(a). Archaean Basement, Raniganj Formation, Dol-
erite Dyke, Fault within Raniganj Formation, RaniganjBarren Measure Contact
Boundary, Barakar Beds, Barren Measures-Barakar Beds Contact Boundary, Faults
within Barakar Beds and Archaean Basement are delineated at RD 4, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25,
27, 3033 and RD 40 km, respectively, along the prole BB
/
seen from Figures 7(b)
and 8(b).
It is clear from Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8 that most of the published (Figure 1) lithoun-
its, its boundaries and structural elements along the prole AA
/
and BB
/
are easily
delineated. Further, some distinct bends/ changes in slopes are observed in different
prole plots as shown in Figures 7 and 8 and could be demarcated as additional subsur-
face lineaments/dykes/faults. These could be validated through detailed study of the
identied areas. The Second Vertical Derivative map is more effective than the First
Vertical Derivative map for delineation of different contact boundaries and structural
elements. From the comprehensive study of Figures 38, it is evident the Jharia coal
(b)
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, 23.64
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(B
/
)
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Figure 7. Plots of rst vertical derivative of gravity anomaly distribution (a) along AA
/
(b)
along BB
/
. Different lithological units/boundary and structural units have been delineated as
observed with distinct bends or changes in slope in the prole.
10 J. Vaish and S.K. Pal
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basin is characterised by relatively high-gravity anomaly at the centre (Barren
MeasureBarakar contact boundary) with accompanying lows along its shoulders and
the southern boundary fault. The high anomaly surrounded by a low would be indica-
tive of subsurface sediments which might be related to the horst, like Patherdih horst,
along the eastern side of the Damodar River. It is evident that the gravity high in the
area is associated with synclinal structures lled with sedimentary or meta-sedimentary
formations inter-bedded with small basic intrusions. This is supported by the gravity
high starting from Bhojudih to Parbatpur, a westerly plunging synform having axis
extended towards ESEWNW direction. The relative high-gravity anomaly starting
north of Radhanagar to Jamadoba is supported by the broad doubly plunging synform
with axis trending towards WNWESE direction. Gravity high located at the north-
western part of the basin is observed around Dumra, a metamorphic inlier within the
basin, encircled by Talchir rock units along the northern, north-western and western
(a)
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(
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Distance (Km)
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Barren Measures -
Barakar Beds Contact
Boundary
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Fault within
Baraka beds
(b)
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86.11, 23.77 (B) 86.52, 23.64 (B
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)
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Distance (km)
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Figure 8. Plots of second vertical derivative gravity anomaly distribution (a) along AA
/
and (b)
BB
/
. Different lithological units/boundary and structural units have been delineated as observed
with distinct bends or changes in slope in the prole of second vertical derivative gravity
anomaly.
Geocarto International 11
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edges, and by the barakar rock formation along the eastern and southern edges.
A relative high anomaly is observed near Dugda,at the corresponding Dugda horst in
the western margin of the coaleld. Gravity anomaly decreasing from the talchir forma-
tion towards the raniganjbarren measures contact boundary clearly evidences that the
basin is deeply subsided in that area (near Mahuda). After the subsidence in Mahuda
area, the observed gravity increases towards the north-east direction which suggests the
presence of an area of relative uplift (gravity highs) and towards the south-west
direction near Parbatpur area it shows the presence of a dome . Dome near Parbatpur
area and Patherdih horst is aligned in EW direction. Gravity lows are observed near
Dhanbad area which may be due to younger sedimentary lithounits of Talchir and
Barakar formation.
The spatial resolution of the generated gravity data is relatively low and this has
been gridded using rigorous interpolation. Accordingly, actual positions of all the iden-
tied locations of the faults/lineaments/dykes/lithounits boundaries, etc. are relatively
well matched with existing geological map in the enhanced vertical derivative anomaly
map. As such, the quantication of error in actual locations of the inferred faults/linea-
ments/dykes and the error incorporated could be evaluated by in situ detailed eld
study in the future.
Generally, the terrestrial in situ gravity data are relatively precise; however, they are
often contaminated by systematic errors such as geodetic datum errors, positioning
errors (mainly elevation), reduction errors, geodynamic effects and instrumental errors
(e.g. gravimeter drift), which tend to accumulate over long distances (Amos &
Featherstone 2003). These and other systematic errors were studied by Heck (1990).
Roland and Denker (2003) showed that the largest error components come from incon-
sistencies in the gravity observations and the horizontal and vertical positioning refer-
ence systems. It is almost impossible to estimate and correct these errors due to the
lack of quantitative information about them. Therefore, the surface and satellite gravity
data are complementary in terms of spectral composition (Huang et al. 2008).
5. Conclusions
In the present study, in situ Bouguer anomaly varies from 35 to 5 mgal with standard
deviation of 11.8 mgal, whereas, GRACE EGM2008 Bouguer gravity anomaly varies
from 34 to 1 mgal with standard deviation of 12.2 mgal. The correlation coefcient
and covariance between the Bouguer gravity anomaly distribution of in situ data and
GRACE EGM2008 data of the study area are 0.86 and 94.4, respectively. Prole plots
of vertical derivatives of GRACE EGM2008 gravity anomaly along different proles
are used to delineate various lithological units/boundary and structural units. The Sec-
ond Vertical Derivative anomaly is more effective than the First Vertical Derivative for
delineation of different lithological boundaries. Most of the delineated lithological
units/boundary and structural units are well correlated with the existing geological map
of the area.
Some additional distinct bends or changes in slopes have been observed in the
spectrum of vertical derivatives, which are not relating to geological features of the
published geological map, may be due to some additional new structural units corre-
sponding to faults/lineaments, etc. within different lithounits. This technique can be
used in conjunction with geological mapping; thus it provides an indirect exploration
tool by identifying and extrapolating geological features, particularly where direct geo-
logical mapping is restricted. Present study reveals that the gravity data generated from
12 J. Vaish and S.K. Pal
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GRACE EGM2008 model have been utilised very effectively for geological evaluation
of Jharia coal-eld area and could be utilised to generate improved structural maps
using better understanding of gravitational imprint of different lithological units, linea-
ments, dykes, faults and seismotectonic set-up of a region. The vertical derivative maps
of the gravity data generated from GRACE EGM2008 model provide better agreement
and understanding for geological setting of the Jharia coaleld.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Prof. D.C. Panigrahi, Director, and Prof. Shalivahan, HOD, Depart-
ment of Applied Geophysics, ISM, Dhanbad, for their keen interest in this study. Thanks are also
due to anonymous Referees, as well as the Editors of the Journal for their suggestions for
improving the manuscript.
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