When one thinks of jewellry, it’s about silver, gold, platinum, or diamonds. It’s their lusture properties and shine that bring beauty to the jewellery and the wearer, at an expense. Well, have you ever thought of coal and jewellery together! No, right?
It’s because when we hear coal all we can think about is the big black chunk of rock by the mines. But now your perceptions will be challenged by a rather interesting innovation by the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) which is situated in Dhanbad.
Their latest initiative is turning the usually used-as-fuel coal to make necklaces, earrings, and other jewellery and decorative items. Scientists are of the opinion that these products when made out of carbon will be strong and durable in addition to being light and useful. As per Dr. Pradeep Kumar, the Director of CIMFR, utilizing the abundantly local coal waste for making products will be a significant value addition to local resources. The products will be made available on the CIMFR portal named Gramin Market.
He further speaks on how the project will lead to socio-economic upliftment and provide skill training, especially for women in the mining areas that are funded by CSR – CIMFR as one gram of coal can be sold for Rs 500 after its conversion. Elaborating on the process of making the products, he says “We have developed a technique through which coal waste is processed in such a way that it can be given different shapes and developed into jewellery and decorative items. It is processed in such a way that it does not catch fire or break easily.”
The process is called ‘coal crafting’ involves using pieces of coal, coal dust, and a binder holding them together and giving shape. The Principal Scientist of the project Dr. Selvi says she was inspired by the coal-waste processing project after seeing sea shells being used for craft and jewellery.