Dimensional Stones in Rajasthan :

Any rock suitable for construction purposes, as distinguished from crushed stone or aggregate. In Rajasthan there are mainly 3 types of stones found. These are :

1. Granite :

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.

Geographical Distribution : 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.

2. Slates and  Phyllite :

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.

Geographical distribution : 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.

District wise 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.

3. Sandstone :

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.

Uses : 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 eveloped due to iron solutions, the cut sandstone after polishing, looks very attractive. It has resulted in its use in place of granite/marble.

Geographical distribution : 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.

Properties : 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.

Given the availability of a large variety of metallic and non-metallic industrial minerals, there is a huge potential of mineral-based industries in Rajasthan. In addition, there is well-developed transport, communication and power infrastructure in the State. The mineral policy of the State has been formulated so as to facilitate investment in mineral-based industrial sector. The State offers an investor-friendly environment and welcomes Indian and multinational investment in mineral-based industries.