STATUS NOTE ON RAS LIMESTONE BELT, DISTT. PALI(RAJASTHAN)

(As on 30-9-2008)Prepared by

RakeshG.Goswami,Geologist,Jodhpur,Rajasthan

INTRODUCTION :The Ras Limestone belt, Distt. Pali runs between Lilamba in the SW to

Kotariya in NE for a strike length of about 40 kms. On the basis of preliminary studies carried out by a special team constituted at Directorate level in the year 1993-94, the entire belt was divided into nine blocks out of which 5 blocks were notified in the year 1994. Only two blocks out of notified block namely block no. 2 & 3 are leased out. In the remaining areas two mining leases are held and one applied by M/s Gujarat Ambuja Cements. Rest of the limestone belt is appplied by no. of cement companies. No part of this belt is free for ML/PL applications. Most of the limestone belt falling in blocks 4 to 9 lie in Aravalli region.

LOCATION & APPROACH :The area lies on toposheet no. 45J/3, 45J/4 and 45G/13 and can be

approached from Bar, Beawar and Jaitaran. It is well connected via NH-8, NH-14 & NH-112.

INFRASTRUCTURE : The area has good network of metalled roads. Nearest railway stations are

Sendra and Beawar on Ahemadabad - Delhi broad gauge railway line. Excellent communication facilities are available.

GEOLOGICAL SET Up:Geologically, limestone of the area belongs to Ras formation of Delhi

super group. Limestone forms linear ridges trending NE-SW with steep dips in SE direction. The limestone is associated with calcsilicate rocks, schist, amphibolites intruded by quartz veins & pegmatites. Strike length of limestone belt is about 40 kms with width varying from 500mts to 2000 mts.

QUANTUM OF WORK :Preliminary surface invertigations in part of this belt was taken up in the

year 1983-84 which indicated presence of cement grade limestone in this belt. Further the entire belt was reviewed in the year 1993-94 and 71 spot samples were collected which indicated that the limestone is suitable for cement industries. Again in the year 1999-2000, part of the belt was investigated by the

department near Dayalpura & only geological maping & sampling work was undertaken. Till date this belt has not been investigated by drilling by the department. However M/s Shree cements & Gujrat Ambuja have carried out exploration in two blocks during tenure of PL in their areas.

GRADE :The limestone is of cement grade, CaO varies from 40.60 to 54.40%,

Mgo 0.20% to 1.81%, SiO2 4.62% to 18.46% & R2O3 1.08% to 3.16%. The average grade comes to be CaO 48%, Mgo 1.03% & SiO2 8.8%. Two major cement plants based on this limestone are already under operation.

RESERVES :Though no detailed exploration has been done but an attempt has been

made to assess tentative geological/mineable reserves on the basis of surface exposures considering average 30m thickness. Table 1 summarises the reserve position in 9 blocks.

TABLE 1

S.No. Block No.Area in

Km.Probable

Reserves (MT)Net reserves after

30% deduction (MT)1 1 23.30 75 50

2 223.60

-Leased out to Shree

Cement3 3 11.25 150 1054 4 24.00 170 1195 5 24.00 136 95.206 6 24.00 337 2367 7 10.50 168 1188 8 10.50 200 1409 9 10.50 130 91

LEASING STATUS :

The blockwise leasing status of the individual block is as follows :

1. Block no. 1 : (Applied)P1 44/04 - Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd.P1 8/05 - Metro CementsP1 39/05 - Dalmiya Cement

2. Block No. 2 : Leased out to M/s Shree Cements.

3. Block No. 3: PL-8/95 - Sanctioned to Gujarat Ambuja.ML - Applied by Gujarat Ambuja.

PL43/95 - Hindustan DevelopmentPL28/95 - DCMPL43/04 - Lafarge IndiaPL29/05 - J.K. CementPL42/05 - Dalmiya CementML23/05 -ML11/07 -

4. Block No. 4 Under litigation at central tribunal level M.L.29/99 sanctioned to M/S L. & T. Ltd. was cancelled and now under revision.Other applicantsML17/05 - By India CementPL30/05 - By J.K. CementPL40/05 - By Dalmia CementPL10/07 -ML12/07 -

5. Block No. 5 PL6/05 - By Metro CementPL41/05 - By Dalmia CementsML24/06 -PL9/07 -

6. Block No. 6 to 9 Part of block no. 6 is already sanctioned to M/S Gujarat Ambuja (ML2/95).The remaining part of the limestone belt between block no. 6 to 9 is applied by number of applicants. The list of applicants is as follows:Part of block no. 6 is protected forest ML10/95 - Santioned to Gujarat AmbujaPL8-2000 - Cancelled but under reversion

(M/S Shree Cement)PL18/05 -PL35/05 -PL37/05ML77/07 -