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Stone Industry in Rajasthan
Rajasthan is the mainstay of the Indian stone industry and has over 90 per cent
of the country's marble, sandstone and flaggy limestone deposits along with a major
share of granite and slate deposits spread over the entire state.
The Rajasthan stone industry is poised for a foray into the International stone
market with its wide variety of stones and a dynamic entrepreneurial base. The industrial
infrastructure in Rajasthan compares favorably with the best in the country. Industrial
areas developed by the Rajasthan State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (RIICO)
are spread over the whole state and have catalyzed an industrial revolution in the
state.
Types of Stone in Rajasthan
- Marble Stone
Rajasthan alone accounts for 1,100 million tons of the total known Indian resources
of 1200 million tons (91 per cent of India's deposits) and 95 per cent of India's
marble production. About 3658 marble mining leases, 1,100 marble processing units
and 50 automatic tiling plants with a marble slab processing capacity of 1,000 million
sq. ft. per annum and marble tiling capacity of 300 million sq. ft. per annum.
Rajasthan has a huge concentration of marble with reserves dissipated in various
districts of Nagaur, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Banswara, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Sirohi, Bhilwara,
Ajmer, Bundi, Alwar and Pali. Makrana, a small town in Rajasthan, has been famous
for its marble mines since ancient times. The different colors found in Rajsthan
marbles are Makrana Albeta White, Green, Makrana Kumari White, Makrana Dungri White,
Jhiri Onyx, Phalodi Pink, Ambaji White, Indo-Italian, Babarmal Pink, Bhainslana
Black, Forest Green, Forest Brown, Agaria White.
- Granite Stone
Granite reserves in Rajasthan are estimated at 8479 million cubic metres and are
spread over in the districts of Barmer, Jalore, Pali, Sirohi, Alwar, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu,
Tonk, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Sikar and Udaipur. Prominent cluster of granite processing
and quarrying in Rajasthan is Jalore with hundreds of small tiling plants. The quarries
in Jalore, Barmer and Jaisalmer produce a wide variety of stones of excellent quality
and colours.
- Flaggy Limestone (Kotahstone)
Kotastone from Kota is a fine-grained limestone, which comes in distinct colours
of greenish-blue & brown. Non-water absorbent, no-slip & non-porous kotastone is
a preferred stone for flooring and cladding. Flaggy limestone from Jaisalmer, which
is yellow in colour, is renowned for its consistency in colour.
An interesting variety of the stone contains exotic fossils imprinted in it. Prominent
clusters are Ramganj mandi, Jhalawar, Nimbahera, Kota and Jaisalmer. Internationally,
the stone has been used in places all over the globe like, major tube stations of
London, Zurich & Frankfurt airports etc.
- Sandstone
Sandstone reserves in Rajasthan, estimated at 900 million tons, are spread over
in the districts of Bharatpur, Dholpur, Kota, Jodhpur, Sawai-Madhopur, Bundi, Chittorgarh,
Bikaner, Jhalawar, Karauli, Nagaur and Jaisalmer. Prominent clusters of sandstone
activity in the state are Dholpur, Karauli, Hindaun City, Sikandra, Bijolia and
Jodhpur.
Many major historical landmarks in India like Red Fort, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament
House, India Gate, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Fatehpur Sikri etc. are made of sandstone
from Rajasthan.
- Slate
The slate deposits of Alwar district are of export quality although slate deposits
occur in districts of Alwar, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Pali, Udaipur,
Churu and Chittorgarh. Appearing in multicolour, Brown, Red. Greyish black, colours,
it is mainly exported to Holland, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.
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