The term "Granite" is derived from latin word "Granum" meaning "grain" because of its granular nature. Rajasthan is well known since time immemorial for its building and dimensional stones like Marble, Sandstone, Limestone, Slate etc. Recently granite has also been added to this list. Granite occupies a prominent place among dimensional stones on account of its hardness, durability, capability to take mirror polish and fascinating colours. As such the use of granite has increased many fold as dimensional and decorative stone all over the world and this has created a good export market for Indian Granite.

Granite has a 95% share in India's dimensional stone export. The export of high value added items like tiles, polished slabs and monument stones has increased by over 50% average growth rate per year.

Rajasthan is richly endowed with large reserves of different varieties of granite spread over in 23 districts of the state. More than 200 localities of granite have been identified so far. The important districtwise locations are given below .

JALORE: Nun, Kalkaji, Raniwara, Khambi, Saphara, Bibalsar, Bruti Kawala, Roja-Bhakar, Keshwana, Kola-Ki-Ghati, Kala-Ghati, Taskhana, Dungari Leta-Dhawala, Kota-Kasta, Tavab, Maylawas, Nabi-Bhetala etc.

SIROHI: Abu,Veerwada-Arasanaji, Mer-Mundwara, Koteshwara, Sanpur-Siyankara, Idarla, Padru Khera, Meerpur, Amlari, Wan, Jeerawal, Dantaria, Shivganj, Anapura, Jhar, Sivera etc.

BHILWARA: Gyangarh-Thana-Phakoliya, Katar, Bor-Ka-Bariya, Janarda, Dhaneri, Naya Talab, Sabadara, Nareli, Charon-Ka-Bariya, Karera, Dhani-Somani, Dhikola, Badnor, Bheru Khera, Kidimal, Udai Ram Ji Ka Guda, Rampuria, Shivpura, etc.

PALI: Bar-Sendara (Jhala-Ki-Chowki), Chittar, Manihari-Bala, Paldi, Sumerpur, Erinpura, Nana-Beda, Sarthur, Rani, Nadol-Narlai-Vinpura, Kot-Samariya, Kharda-Kerala, Dharamdhari, Jawaria, Netra, Jhakhora, Khidara, Kothar, Dani-Dantiwara etc.

Bala Flower Jalore	Chima Pink Jalore	Copper Silk Jalore	Golden Pearl Jalore
Imperial Pink Jalore	Rosy Pink Jalore	Royal Touch Jalore	Sunrise Yellow Jalore
Merry Gold Barmer	Rakhee Green Barmer	Royal Cream Barmer	P. White Pali

Technical Details	Water Absorption, % by weight	Density, bulk specific gravity	Modulus of rupture, N/mm2		Compressive strength N/mm2		Abrassion resistance to wear		Flexural strength, N/mm2
ASTM/ Indian Standard	C-97	C-97	C-99		C-170		IS 1237 Guidelines		IS 4860 Guidelines
Area			Dry	Wet	Dry	Wet	Avg. Wear mm	Mxm. Wear mm
Bala Flower, Jalore	0.44	2.61	23	22	203	184	0.6	0.7	20
Chima Pink, Jalore	0.73	2.62	11	13	140	119	0.6	0.7	13
Copper Silk, Jalore	0.04	2.63	17	20	148	119	0.7	0.9	19
Golden Pearl, Jalore	0.07	2.64	13	14	186	152	0.7	0.8	14
Imperial Pink, Jalore	0.15	2.65	11	15	117	100	0.6	0.7	14
Rosy Pink, Jalore	0.09	2.62	14	18	125	118	0.6	0.7	16
Royal Touch, Jalore	0.12	2.63	17	19	123	123	0.5	0.6	18
Sunrise Yellow, Jalore	0.12	2.62	13	14	142	102	0.8	0.9	12
Merry Gold, Barmer	0.70	2.61	15	14	125	109	0.8	1.00	14
Rakhee Green, Barmer	0.10	2.71	11	13	134	132	0.7	0.8	13
Royal Cream, Barmer	0.22	2.59	17	18	141	171	0.6	0.7	15
P.White, Pali	0.20	2.65	11	11	142	133	0.9	1.00	11

Granites are classified under four grades depending upon the compressive strength and abrasive resistance as specified below :

A large number of granite based processing units are operating in Rajasthan including many processing units of large and imported Gangsaws. Some of these are totally export oriented units. A number of tiny/small tiling plants are also in operation. Units are mainly located at Jalore, Sikar, Abu Road, Alwar, Jhnjhunu, Jaipur, Banswara, Shahpura, Ajmer, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Badnor, Devgarh, Raipur, Pali, Jodhpur etc.

Commercial expolitation of granite in India is confined largely to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Orrisa, M.P., Bihar and Gujrat. India is second largest exporter of granite blocks and finished slabs and tiles.

Sandstone may be defined as a stone made up of grains of quartz and other minerals of fairly uniform size and often smooth and rounded. These grains are held together by a cementing material which may be siliceous or ferruginous. The toughness of sandstone depends mostly on the nature of this cementing material

Rajasthan being the largest producer is an important sandstone producing state of India. It is an excellent building stone. This can be chiseled and dressed to a smooth surface in various attractive shapes. The sandstone has a verity of uses such as roofing, flooring, paving, paneling, beams, pillars, arches, doors and window sills, wall facing, fence posts, mile stones etc. It is especially useful for exterior cladding in sea shore buildings due to acid & thermal resistant properties. As such the effect of saline winds is negligible on sandstone. It is also suitable for use in chemical industries as flooring, wall fixing & lining due to its acid and alkali resistant properties. It is also suitable for carving and making windows and jallis. The sandstone is being quarried and used from centuries and a number of historical buildings and monuments such as Budhist Stupas of Sarnath, Red Fort, Sansad Bhawan, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and National Museum , Delhi; Chhitar Palace, Jodhpur etc. are made of sandstone.

Rajasthan Sandstone because of its regular bedding, uniform grain size, suitable nature and durability, has been used extensively not only in Rajasthan but also in Northern India and even exported to Canada, Japan, and Middle East countries.

Recently some entrepreneurs have tried for cutting and polishing of sandstone. Due to the straight/curved lines of bedding/current bedding & attractive figures developed due to iron solutions, the cut sandstone after polishing, looks very attractive. It has resulted in its use in place of granite/marble.

Rajasthan sandstone is mainly found in the main Vindhyan and Trans-Aravalli- Vidhyan sequence exposed in an area of about 34,000 sq. km. covering parts of Dholpur, Bharatpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi, Jhalawar, Kota, Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh Jaisalmer and Baran districts in eastern Rajasthan and in scattered form in Jodhpur, Nagaur and Bikaner districts of western desert plain

The Lower Bhander sandstone is usually medium to fine grained, purple, reddish-brown in colour with pale white bands and is compact, massive and having quadrangular joints. The Upper Bhander sandstone is reddish-brown in colour with cream spots. Jhalarapatan sandstone is fine-grained, hard, compact and of different colours such as white to buff-grey, red, cream and is acid proof. Jodhpur sandstone is coarse to medium grained, red and buff white in colour. Khatu sandstone is fine grained, creamish-white in colour and is specially famous for carving and used for making fine, perforated windows and jallies. The physical & chemical properties of Rajasthan sandstone are given in following table.

Artifacts made of Granite
Hollow Ball	Ball Fountain
Ring	Cigar Stand	Flower Vase		Lamp	Table Leg
Artifacts made of Marble
Shivling	Fire Place	Garden Fountain	Table Fountain	Tableware
Artifacts made of Sandstone
Garden Fountain		Table Leg	Baluster	Pillar	Sprial Pillar
Lobby Fountain	Garden Bench		Fire Place		Vase

Jodhpur Pink Jodhpur Red Modak Ramganjmandi Dholpur Beige Karoli Rainbow Nagaur Teak Wood Nagaur

Properties Jodhpur Karauli Dholpur Bijoliyan Density (Kg/m3) 2.42 2.38 2.40 2.44 Water Absorption (%) 1.25 1.20 1.20 1.20 Modulus of Rupture (Kg/cm3) 220 210 208 204 Compressive Strenght (Kg/cm3) 390 358 460 750 Color Red, Pink, Buff, Brown

Properties Area Percentage Jodhpur Karauli >Dholpur Bijoliyan Sio2 96.60 96.20 98.20 97.24 Fe2o3 1.20 0.80 0.84 0.96 Al2o3 1.00 1.20 0.32 0.84 CaO 0.28 0.40 0.28 0.28 MgO 0.20 0.20 Nil Nil L.O.I. 0.50 0.60 0.20 0.20

Bansi Pink Bharatpur Jodhpur Pink Jodhpur Red Dholpur Beige Karoli Rainbow Nagaur

Agra Red Karauli Jodhpur Pink Jodhpur Red Dholpur Beige Karoli Rainbow Nagaur	Properties Jodhpur Karauli Dholpur Bijoliyan Density (Kg/m3) 2.42 2.38 2.40 2.44 Water Absorption (%) 1.25 1.20 1.20 1.20 Modulus of Rupture (Kg/cm3) 220 210 208 204 Compressive Strenght (Kg/cm3) 390 358 460 750 Color Red, Pink, Buff, Brown

Commercially, the slates are defined as layered stone that can be split into slices of thickness ranging from 8 to 14 mm. Slates/Scihists are generally fine grained and occur in various shades of grey to steel grey, greenish grey, dark grey, purplish grey, brownish, ash and sometimes with other pleasing colours. Slates/Schists have varying degree of hardness. The harder ones are being sometimes used for flooring.

These are low cost decorative stones having wide applications after cutting for use in interior as well as exterior decorations.

Schist and slate stones are argillaceous rocks having different grades of metamorphism. Certain planes of easy split called 'schistosity', are developed in these rocks due to metamorphism, which make these rocks suitable for decorative use. The slates/schists having good and even cleavages are valued much. The planes of cleavage are related solely to the direction of pressure to which the material was subjected and not to the bedding plane.

Micaceous and chlorite slates/schists are generally of good quality.
These are used for roofing, paving, shelves and flooring purposes in the rural areas in and around the places where it is mined. Now a days slates/schists are cut in to tiles and used for wall claddings. Slates are also used for making school slates.

Etching on Slate Stone

Slates, schist and phyllites of dimensional use are found associated with Delhi and Aravalli Supergroup of rocks in parts of Ajmer, Alwar, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Bundi, Pali, Tonk, Udaipur and Chittaurgarh districts. Slate deposits of Alwar are conspicuous both in regard to quality and quantity.

Besides, Bar conglomerate in Pali district and calc-schists in Ajmer district, mica schist in Bhilwara district etc. are quarried for use as roofing and flooring slabs.

Districtwise distribution of Slates, schist and phyllites is shown below:

Ajmer: Sheopura, Lulawa, Nai Khurd (Beawar).

Alwar: Basai, Kayasa, Kund (Behrod).

Tonk: Devli, Dhuni, Anwa, Uncha.

Pali: Bar.

Bhilwara: Badnor, Tikar.

Dungarpur: Balwara.

Chittaurgarh: Gosunda.

Udaipur: Godan, Gogunda.

Panther Jhalawar
Deoli Tonk
Copper Tonk
Silver Grey Bhilwara

Technical Information of Slate
Technical Details	Water Absorption, % by weight	Modulus of rupture, N/mm2	Acid Resistance (Whether Resistence) Depth of softening mm	Abrassion resistance to wear
ASTM/ Indian Standard	C-121	C-120	C-217	IS 1237 Guidelines
Area				Avg. Wear mm	Mxm. Wear mm
Panther Jhalawar	2.0	2.9	0.04	1.7	1.9
Deoli Tonk	2.1	1.9	0.06	5.7	5.9
Copper Tonks	1.2	14	0.09	11.7	11.7
Silver Grey Bhilwara	0.3	46	0.05	26	2.8

Rajasthan is a storehouse of non-metallic & industrial minerals. Mineral wise important location are briefly described below. Many of these areas have been leased out entrepreneurs, but free potential areas can still be available for leasing.

Important deposits of barytes occur in district of Alwar and Udaipur. In Alwar it occurs in the area of Sainpuri, Zahir Ka kera, Ramsinghpura, Bhankhera, Karoli, Jamroli, Umrain, Girara, Dholera and a reserve of 75000 tonnes containing 95% BaSO4. In Udaipur district it is found near village Relpatliya where about 1 million tonne reserves containing 80 to 95% BaSO4.have been assessed by the department. In rajsamand district baryte occurs in Delwara-Kesuli-Nathdwara belt where 41000 tonnes of baryte reserves containing 60-95% BaSO4 were estimated. In Bundi dist. it is found in Umar area where 1650 tonnes of byrates reserves containing 78.6% BaSO4 have been assessed. Similarly in Bhilwara district a reserve of 1600 tonnes of barytes containing 80-90% BaSO4 were estimated.

The important deposits of calcite in the state are Maonda and Raipur in Sikar district (40,000 tonnes); Khila in Sirohi district (0.88 million tonnes); Dhinkali, Gayphal and Rabcha in Udaipur district 0.4 million tonnes and Dwarikpura and Nazar in Jaipur Dist. (51,000 tonnes).

Rajasthan possesses ball clay, fire clay and china clay deposits, the known reserves of these clays are of the order of 38 million tonnes, 17.8 million tonnes and 208 million tonnes respectively. A reserve of 20 million tonnes of fireclay can be obtained from lignite areas of Bikaner districts. The important locations of clay deposits are Bikaner district (Nal, Kolayat, Kotri, Barsinghsar, Mudh, Gura, Chanli etc.), Pali district (Literiya, Khardiya etc.), Jaisalmer district (Devikot, Mandai etc.) Nagaur distt. (Mungva, Khajwana, Rol, Indawar etc.) Barmer district (Gunga, Kapurdi, Jalipa etc.), Bhilwara distt. (Mangrup, Kotri, Jahajpur etc.), Chittorgarh district (Eral, Sawa etc.) Jaipur district (Torda, Buchara, Fatehpur etc.) Sawai Madhupr district (Basu, Raesena etc.) Sikar district, (Mahawa, Purshottampura etc.), Ajmer district (Maliya, Lughiya etc.) Jodhpur district (Jewasiya, Ramasani-Rampura, Kheradiya etc.)

The important dolomite deposits are Bajla-Kabra (Ajmer) having 13 million tonnes of all grade; Mandal, Koshithal (Bhilwara) having 20 & 28 million tonnes of all grade respectively. Chittoria - Gorla - Chandakheri (Chittorgarh) having 45 million tonnes with MgO 18 to 21%, and SiO2 0.6- 4%; Kotputli, Manwa-Ramgarh, Bhaislana (Jaipur) having 31 Million tonnes all grade; Chicha, Chalota (Jaisalmer) 3.15 million tonnes all grade; Indo-Ki-Dhani, Indolai Ka Talab, Rathoro Ka Dhora (Jodhpur) having 5 million tonnes SMS grade; Daulatpura, Balpura (Sikar) having 1.95 million tonnes of all grade; and Iswal, Haldighati (Udaipur) having 2.55 million tonnes of all grade.

Rajasthan emerald belt extends for 185 kms. strike length from Gamgurha in Rajsamand district to Bubani in Ajmer district. Important areas are Rajgarh, Tikhi, Kalaguman. The occurrences are highly sporadic and variable.

Ajmer district is the leading producer in the state having about 17 million tonnes estimated reserves of feldspar containing 11 to 14% K2O. The important occurrences are:

Ajmer- Dadlia, Sander Sari, Loharwada, Berawa, Fatehgarh, Dantor, Lohargarh, Taragarh etc. Alwar- Talarpur-Khatrhal Pali- Chanodeya, Pratapgarh, Dungar, Bera, Barentia , etc.,Bhilwara- Mandal, Asind etc.,

The important deposits of fluorite in Rajasthan are Mando Ki Pal and Kahila in Dungarpur distt where 0.7 million tonnes and 2.5 lacs tonnes of reserves with 17% and 20% CaF2 content respectively have been proved. In Karada, Jalore distt. 0.17 million tonnes reserves with 20 to 80% CaF2; in Chowkri-Chapoli, Sikar distt. 0.35 million tonnes reserves with 8 to 15% CaF2 have been estimated.

Garnet deposits are located in Udaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Rajsamand and Tonk districts covering a strike length of 250 kms. Most important gem variety is found in Tonk district in a 11 km. long belt running from Kalyanpura to Rajmahal.

The total reserves of gypsum in the State are estimated at 1070 million tonnes The important localities are Bhadwasi (Nagaur) having 930 million tonnes with 80% CaSO4 2H2O; Mohangarh, Lakhakhedar, Nachana, Bhadra (Jaisalmer) having 12.4 million tonnes with 50 to 80% CaSO4 2H2O; Jamsar, Dhirera, Lunkanasar (Bikaner) having 20 million tonnes with 70-80% CaSO4 2H2O.

It is found in Rajasthan in Lakhasar, Gussainsar, Bikaner, Kalu, Malkisar, Ganganagar areas in the form of polyhalite. About 739 million tonnes reserves estimated with 0.75 to 8% K below depth of 500 mts. (By Geological Survey of India)

Important deposit of rock-phosphate in the state are in Jhamar-Kotra (Udaipur) having 77 m.t . with 12 to 38% P2O5; Maton (Udaipur) having 9.20 million tonnes with 15 to 25% P2O5; Kanpur (Udaipur) having 5.83 million tonnes with 12 to 15% P2O5; Dakan Kotra (Udaipur) having 1.40 million tonnes with 12 to 20% P2O5; Dhol Ki Patti, Ekalingpura (Udaipur) having 3.85 million tonnes with 12 to 15% P2O5; Birmania (Jaisalmer) having 4.34 million tonnes with 12.91% P2O5; Achrol (Jaipur) having with 1.18 million tonnes 5 to 10 % P2O5; Sallopat (Banswara) having 1.00 million tonnes with 15 to 30% P2O5.

The important deposits of silica sand are Barodia (Bundi) having 1.16 million tonnes; Mudh, Gudha (Bikaner) with 3.0 million tonnes insulator, refractory and ceramic grade; Alampur, Karoli and Jare (Sawai Madhopur) with 0.73 million tonnes of all grade; Kundi, Kanpur, Khimaz (Kota) having 5.33 million tonnes of all grade; Chabra (Baran) having 3 million tonnes all grade Lathi (Jaisalmer) having 7.5 million tonnes all grade. Jhir, Khori, Nimora (Jaipur) having 8.00 Million tonnes with 97.9% SiO2.

Siliceous Earth is found in Bariyara, Mati Ka Gol, Mandai, Sajit, Babrasar, Dharvi Khurd in Barmer and Jaisalmer dist. having 10.000 million tonnes reserves with 80% SiO2.

The important deposits are located at the following places of the State:

Udaipur District:Undithal, Coda, Depura, Gogunda, Gorach, Padla, Parsola, Bhungabhatt, Bharkundi, Sanjela, Negdiya, Rabcha, Kagmadar, Jadol, Usang, Natahara Ki Pal, Kherawar etc.

Dungarpur District: Deval, Balwara, Peeth, Simalwara, Panchpura, Amjera etc.

Dausa District:Dagotar, Geejgarh etc.

Bhilwara District: Ghevaria, Chainpura, Bhagwasa etc

Sawai Madhopur District: Dholita, Dhawan, Kamalpura, Ghari, etc.

Wollastonite :Extensive deposit of wollastonite is located near village Khila and Khera-Uparla in Pali, Sirohi and Udaipur district where 56 million tonnes of reserves have been estimated. Low grade Wollastonite was also found near village Gola ali pura, Rupnagar in Ajmer Dist. having 1.66 M.t preserves with 30% CaSiO3.