technical note on Ras limestone belt in Pali disstt. of rajasthan, prepared by me

1. 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

2. 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 2 23.60 - Leased out to Shree
Cement
3 3 11.25 150 105
4 4 24.00 170 119
5 5 24.00 136 95.20
6 6 24.00 337 236
7 7 10.50 168 118
8 8 10.50 200 140
9 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 Cements
P1 39/05 - Dalmiya Cement
2. Block No. 2 : Leased out to M/s Shree Cements.

3. 3. Block No. 3: PL-8/95 - Sanctioned to Gujarat Ambuja.
ML - Applied by Gujarat Ambuja.
PL43/95 - Hindustan Development
PL28/95 - DCM
PL43/04 - Lafarge India
PL29/05 - J.K. Cement
PL42/05 - Dalmiya Cement
ML23/05 -
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 applicants
ML17/05 - By India Cement
PL30/05 - By J.K. Cement
PL40/05 - By Dalmia Cement
PL10/07 -
ML12/07 -
5. Block No. 5 PL6/05 - By Metro Cement
PL41/05 - By Dalmia Cements
ML24/06 -
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 Ambuja
PL8-2000 - Cancelled but under reversion
(M/S Shree Cement)
PL18/05 -
PL35/05 -
PL37/05
ML77/07 -