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IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, "Resource and Environmental Monitoring", Hyderabad, India, 2002 
TECTONIC AND LINEAMENT MAPPING OF GODAVARI VALLEY COAL FIELDS, 
ANDHRA PRADESH USING REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES 
S.V.B.K. Bhagavan, V.Raghu and A.Nageswara Rao* 
A.P. State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (APSRAC) 
2" Floor, Directorate of Economics and Statistics Campus 
Khairatabad, Hyderabad — 500 004, A.P., India 
E-mail : apsrac @hd1.vsnl.net.in 
* Disaster Management Unit, Planning Department, *L' Block, 5^ Floor 
A.P. Secretariat, Hyderabad — 500 022, A.P., India 
E-mail: nrakella 2 yahoo.com 
KEYWORDS: Godavari Valley Coal Fields, Remote Sensing, 
Tectonism, Andhra Pradesh 
ABSTRACT : 
Gondwana Formation, Structural framework, Fracture frequency, 
The Godavari valley coalfields, which include the coal reserves of Andhra Pradesh, lies in a rift va;;ey, a well known intra-cratonic 
basin. The area under study lies in between latitude 16?45' to 19945* N and longitude 79? 00' to 81?15' E. This work includes an 
area of about 30,000 sq.km. occupying parts of Adilabad , Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, East Godavari, and West Godavari 
districts of Andhra Pradesh. In the present study, detailed visual interpretation of false colour composite (FCC) images of IRS-IA/IB 
and Landsat-TM was carried out. The map of geology and structure was prepared initially on a regional scale (1:250,000) for a 
synoptic view. Detailed interpretation of geology and structural framework of the basin was also carried out on 1:50,000 scale. 
Various structural features are identified based on different image characteristics as observed on the satellite images. The lineament 
and tectonic maps were subjected to analysis by applying the integrated deformation model. The directions along which major sets 
of these structural features are aligned are grouped as lineaments, faults, and shear zones. In this way, frequency diagram of 
lineaments, faults and shear zones are represented independently. Besides this, all the three structures are combined and represented 
as single fracture frequency diagram to get a comprehensive view. The structural trends based on the frequency analysis of the 
individual formations are discussed. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The quest for fuel resources has been substantially increasing 
with burgeoning population and expanding economy. Most of 
the deposits are already discovered and the remaining part is 
hidden under inaccessible areas of the earth. In such areas, the 
collection of data by conventional ground surveys is difficult, 
expensive, and time consuming. In this connection, with the 
advent of many technological innovations, remote sensing 
techniques have opened new vistas in geological mapping, 
including recognition of tectonic and structural features of the 
terrain.The Godavari valley coalfield, which includes the coal 
reserves of Andhra Pradesh, lies in a rift valley, a well-known 
intra-cratonic tectonic basin. It is believed to be seismically 
active even today and has a characteristic structural 
configuration. For the reasons of its great geological and 
mineral importance the coalfields have been studied and 
mapped by various departments of State and Central 
Governments for over a century. However, data on the tectonic 
and structural configuration of this unique and complex 
coalfield is incomplete and scattered in the departmental 
publications and reports of various apex agencies. 
2. STUDY AREA 
The Pranhita-Godavari Valley Coal fields is a major NNW- 
SSE trending basin belt on the Precambrian platform. It 
follows the course of the Godavari and Pranhita rivers for over 
a length of about 470 Km. Though there is a geological 
continuity of the Gondwana sediments from one extremity to 
the other, one sector for a length of about 350 km lying mostly 
in Andhra Pradesh is usually referred to as the Pranhita- 
Godavari or Godavari Valley Coal Field, while the adjacent part 
in Maharashtra is designated as the Wardha Valley Coal Field 
(Raja Rao, 1982). 
The area under study lies in between latitude 16°45° to 19°45* N 
and longitude 79° 00’ to 81°15’ E. This work includes an area 
of about 30,000 sq.km occupying parts of Adilabad, 
Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, East Godavari, and West 
Godavari Districts. This area is covered by 42 Survey of India 
Toposheets on 1:50,000 scale falling in 56M, 56N, 65B, 65C, 
65D, and 65H. 
3. OBJECTIVE 
The main objective of the study is to prepare a tectonic and 
lineament map of the Godavari Valley Coal Field area by using 
remote sensing techniques to establish the structure, tectonic 
framework of the basin to facilitate future investigations of 
exploration, mine planning, and development strategies. 
4. METHODOLOGY 
In the present study, detailed visual interpretation of false 
colour composite (FCC) images of the remote sensing satellites 
(IRS-IA/IB and LANDSAT-TM) was carried out. The map of 
lineaments was prepared initially on a regional scale 
(1:250,000) using and Landsat TM for a synoptic view to 
understand the regional tectonic framework of the basin for a 
broader perspective. Besides that, a total of forty-two false 
477