Laboratory Services



Laboratory Services of CMPDIL is a center for excellence in resource quality evaluation, beneficiation and proper utilization of coal/lignite and minerals. Expert services are offered with highly skilled manpower and state-of-the-art equipments for characterisation of coal and lignite through chemical, petrographic and washability route supported by coal technologist for end use.  The quality and washability data generated during the last two decades formed the basis for deciding grade of coal in Geological Reports and Mine Feasibility Reports, Designing of Washeries, and further down stream utilization. To meet the relate industry's requirement, continuous R&D activities are carried out.

Basic services offered:



Chemical Laboratory


Chemical analysis of coal is essential for characterization, utilisation, commercial grading and marketing purposes. For utillisation of coal in different industries such as power, steel, cement, fertilizer, railways, domestic consumption, brick kiln, textile, sugar, tea, glass, pottery, refractory, carbon industries and other chemical industries, characterization of coal is essential.

The broad activity of the chemical laboratory starts from collection of coal samples from different sources viz. coal core, ROM samples, channel samples etc. to analyse of various parameters.

  • Sampling & Sample Preparation

    • Sampling of Coal/Lignite
    • Preparation and Processing of Samples

  • Chemical Analysis for Coking and Non-coking Coal & Lignite

    • Proximate Analysis by both conventional & microprocessor based equipments
    • Moisture % at 60% RH & 400C
    • Calorific Value
    • Ultimate Analysis & Carbonate CO2
    • Phosphorus
    • Ash Analysis & Ash Fusion Temperature Range (AFTR)
    • LTGK Coke Type & Swelling Index
    • Plastometric Study
    • Specific Gravity


Coal Petrography Laboratory


CMPDI's Coal Petrography Laboratory is one of the leading laboratories of India to undertake the characterization of coal / lignite, source rock evaluation for hydrocarbon generation at the exploration stage, washery product, and quality control of Indian/imported coal. Coal Petrography study is essentially microscopic study of coal (maceral composition, vitrinite reflectance & v type distribution) which plays an important role for blending of coal in coke making and charaterisation of coking and non-coking coal for its end use.

The Coal Petrography Laboratory from time to time has upgraded itself with the induction of state of art automatic equipment for rapid/detail determination of both organic and inorganic constituent of coal. It is only laboratory in India to achieve accreditation of ICCP (International Committee for Coal Petrography).

With its highly trained and dedicated manpower and sophisticated/imported equipment, the Laboratory is in a position to undertake following analysis:

  • Coal characterization for coal exploration, washery product control, blend studies for coking as well as for non-coking coals

    • Maceral Analysis
    • Vitrinite Reflectance %
    • V Type Distribution
    • Minerals in Coal

  • Coke Petrology

    • Pore Structure
    • Pore Size & Pore Size Distribution
    • Mosaic Size
    • Fracture Characteristics

  • Oil and Gas Exploration

    • Vitrinite Reflectance
    • Maceral Analysis, Liptinite (Exinite) Fluorescence
    • Maturation Potential
    • Thermal History Studies

  • Oil Shales

    • Maceral Analysis
    • Liptinite (Exinite) Fluorescence
    • Vitrinite Reflectance

  • Mineralogical Phase Analysis

    • Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Minerals and Phases through X-Ray Diffractometer
    • Shape, size of Minerals in Coal/Metal/Rock and Cleat Study of Coal for CBM Exploration is being carried out by SEM


Coal Preparation Laboratory


The Coal Preparation Laboratory is one of the leading laboratory in the country for laboratory scale coal washability study and characterization of ROM coal, washery rejects bore hole samples. This Lab also undertakes comprehensive washability studies on coal samples as per the requirements of the client.

The basic services offered by the Laboratory are as follows :

  • Sub Sampling and Sample Preparation
    • Crushing of ROM Coal to different sizes
    • Screening of Coal at various sizes
    • Pulverisation
    • Grinding by Ball Mill/Rod Mill
  • Proximate Analysis
  • Ultimate Analysis
  • Calorific Value
  • Determination of Sulphur
  • Ash Fusion Temperature
  • Determination of characteristics of Fine Coal
    • Froth Flotation
    • Filtration
    • Sedimentation
    • pH
    • Size Analysis by Weight Sieving
  • Determination of Shattering, Pulverising & Abrasion Characteristics of Coal
    • Drop Shatter Test
    • Abrasion Test
    • Hardgrove Grindability Index
    • Typical Drum Tumbler Test
  • Determination of Caking Characteristics of Coal
    • Caking Index
    • Swelling Index
    • Gray King Assay (L.T.) Coke Type
  • Petrographic Analyses
    • Reflectance Measurement
    • Maceral Analysis
    • Analysis of Visible Minerals in Coal


Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Lab


  • Gas Desorption Study
  • Construction of Adsorption Isotherm
  • Gas Composition Study
  • Mobile Unit for collection of Coal Cores


Mine Laboratory Facilities


  • Uniaxial Compressive Strength
  • Tensile Strength
  • Shear Strength
  • Young's Modulus and Poisson's Ratio
  • Bulk Density
  • Protodyakonov Index, Impact Strength Index, Point Load Index and Cone Indenter Index
  • Triaxial Compressive Strength, Cohesion and Angle of Internal Friction
  • Slake Durability Index
  • Cerchar Index of Abrasivity


Survey & Geomatics Laboratory


  • Microptic Theodolite with EDM
  • North seeking GYRO with Theodolite
  • Total Workstation
  • GPS and GIS
  • Daedalus AADS 1268 ATM Scanner


Exploration Laboratory


  • Geophysical Loggers
  • Seismographs
  • Gravimeters & Magnetometers
  • Drilling Rigs (Rotary, DTH, Coring)
  • Resistivity Meters, etc.
  • Borehole Deviation Unit
  • Aquifer Testing Equipment


Other Laboratory Facilities


  • Non-destructive testing of Mine Winders, Cage Suspension Gears, Heavy Earth Moving Machines
  • Development & repair of Electronic Control Cards for HEMM, Washery equipment etc.
  • Coal/Coke Utilisation Studies


On going CIL, R&D Projects


  • Characterisation of Cleats in Coal from Raniganj and Jharia Coalfield
  • Resource Assessment and Characterisation of Non coking Coals for Sponge Iron Industry.


On going S&T Schemes


  • Development of cheap energy efficient by-product coke oven for production of hard coke for steel/metallurgical
  • Development of process/technique for utilisation of less matured non coking coal for making hard coke by utilising stamp charging.
  • Agglomeration formation in reducing condition in Pressurised Fluidised Bed Gasification(PFBG) with low rank high ash.