A recent scientific study has revealed that coal mines in Jharkhand are offering valuable insights into Earth’s ancient past, helping researchers reconstruct ecosystems that existed millions of years ago. The findings, based on detailed analysis of fossil remains preserved within coal-bearing rock formations, indicate that the region once supported dense forests and diverse plant life. These deposits are part of the Gondwana sedimentary sequences, which date back to the Permian period, approximately 250–300 million years ago.
Scientists observed well-preserved fossilised flora, including ancient plant species that thrived in swampy, waterlogged environments. Such discoveries provide crucial evidence about past climatic conditions and continental configurations, when the Indian landmass was part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana.
Researchers noted that the coal-bearing strata of eastern India serve as a geological archive, enabling the reconstruction of prehistoric biodiversity and climate patterns. The study contributes to a better understanding of long-term environmental and evolutionary changes.
Experts have emphasised that continued scientific exploration of coalfield regions will further strengthen knowledge of India’s palaeobotanical heritage and its role in global geological history. The findings underscore the importance of integrating scientific research with sustainable resource management practices in mineral-rich states such as Jharkhand.