GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES OFSIKAR DISTRICT.

The district derives its name from the town of Sikar which is also headquarter of the district administration. The district lies in the north eastern region of Rajasthan at an average altitude of 431 mt. It stretches between 27° 07' to 28° 12' latitudes and 74° 41' to 76° 05' longitudes. It is bounded in north by Churu and Jhunjunu district of Rajasthan and Mahendragarh district of Haryana, on the west by Churu and Nagaur districts, on the south by Jaipur and Nagaur districts and on the east by Jaipur district.

The district has an area of 7732 sq kms. and a population of 18,36,572 (1991 census). The district is part of Jaipur division and is divided in three sub divisions, Sikar, Fatehpur and Neem-ka-Thana . It comprises six tehsils namely Fatehpur, Lachhmangarh, Sikar,Neem-ka- Thana, Sri Madhopur and Danta Ramgarh . The district headquarter is 116 kms. from Jaipur and is well connected by road and metergauge railway link to Jaipur, Delhi, Bikaner etc.

The general shape of the district is of an irregular crescent or a bowl. The district can be broadly divided in to three natural divisions namely (i) the desert area in the north western portion (ii) The semi desert area with hillocks on the central portion and (iii)the undulating and hilly area in north and north eastern portion. The major part of the district is a sandy tract but it is more so towards the north of Sikar which forms a part of the great Indian desert. The hills in the district forms part of the Aravalli ranges. These run from south to north dividing the district in two equal parts. Area south of Khandela in Sri Madhopur tehsil in central portion of district is. an undulating plain, There are no perrenial rivers in the district.GEOLOGYThe major part of the land which is now district Sikar seems to have witnessed a storm in ocean which washed this area and left its marks in the shape of sand layers visible every where. This area is semi desert which formed the bed of an ocean. The sourthen and south eastern part of the district is occupied by loamy soil and hills of the Aravalli range.

The geological succession of Sikar district is as follows:

The rock types exposed in the area belong exclusively to Delhi Supergroup of meta sediments which are separated from the older Aravallies by a conspicuous unconformity. The prominent exposures are seen on Neem-ka- Thana hills situated in the eastern and north eastern parts of the district. The Delhi Supergroup rocks are divided into Alwar and Ajabgarh Group. The metasediments of Alwar Group are characterised by dominance of arenaceous rocks consisting of quartzits of various types. These rock types are seen in the eastern part of the district along the continuation of Khetri belt in the south central part. Besides many isolated out crops occur in Saladipura, Sevli, Khandela and Kotri. The regional strike of these rocks is north south.

In Saladipura area a major anticline exposes the amphibole quartzite, marbles and schists. Its core is occupied by basic

intrusives later metamorphosed to epidiorites and amphibolites. Exposures seen near Byore, Roopgarh and

surrounding areas in the south central part of the district consists of quartzites of different types with subordinate

amount of mica schists. The general trend of rocks is NE-SW to NNE-SSW with variable dips towards west.

The rocks of Ajabgarh formation are characterised by large portion of calcareous rocks. The main rock types are marble, calc-gneisses, calc silicates, phyllites and mica schists. The general trend of the rocks is north east-south west

(NE-SW) dipping low towards west. The Ajabgarh formation represented by quartzites, gneisses and amphibole marble are best exposed south of Kotri Rampura and around Atheaga.Igneous intrusives of both basic and acidic rock types are exposed throughout the district. The basic intrusive including epidiorites and amphibolites in form of veins sheets. The acid intrusives include granite and pegmatite occuring as sills and dykes.The important mineral deposits of the district are described below:-

MINERALS OF SIKAR DISTRICTSikar district is endowed with some important mineral deposits of the state. It has vast resources of pyrite near Saladipura and lime stone in Neem- ka Thana areas. Other minerals avaialbe in the district are copper, iron,apatite, calcite, beryllium, fluorspar, feldspar and barytes.The details of mineral deposits are given below.

Copper .

Copper mineralisation occurs as parallel zones from Mothoka in the north to Ahirwala in the south (over a length of 35 kms.) with in the rocks of Delhi Super group.The investigation carried out in this belt has revealed a number of isolated and detached prospects. In Baleswar, a reserve of 1.5 million tonnes containing 1.1 % has been established. Copper - molybedenum mineralisation has been reported from Tejwala-Ahirwala, Chiplata prospects. In Tejwala block 0.5 million tonnes reserves with 0.5% Cu have been estimated. Stains of malachite-azurite and disseminations of primary sulphides have also been observed near Harsnath Ghateswar, Dariba & Patan.PyriteInvestigations carried out by G.S.I. near Saladipura established the presence of Sulphide mineralisation consisting chiefly of pyrite & pyrrhotite with minor amount of sphalerite over a strike length of 7 km. in two zones. The deposit is located about 1.5 km. north west of Saladipura village which is 120 km. from Jaipur via Sri Madhopur. The exploratory drilling has revealed that gossan body extends to a depth of 36 to 47 mts from the surface beyond which there is rich sulphide mineralisation consisting of pyrite and pyrrhotite with minor amounts of sphalerite. The mineralisation has taken place along sheared biotite-quartzite, biotite-amphibole, quartzite and phyllites belonging to the Ajabgarh Group of the Delhi Super group. The width of the ore body varies from 6.47 to 52.41 metres and its depth persistance is beyond 300 metres. Based on the detailed drilling the total ore reserves estimated in three blocks are given below:Block Ore reserves (in m tonnes) Av.grade %s Sulphate content

(in m. tonnes.)

A25.82 27.65 7.12

B 25.64 18.24 4.67

C 22.42 19.10 4.27

73.8816.06

The area is leased out to M/ s. Pyrite, Phosphate & . Chemicals Ltd., a Govt. of India undertaking.

Beryllium (Beryl)The occurrences of beryl are reported from Torda, Buchara, Churla and Sanwalpura areas in Bairath tehsil. The areas are about 35 kms. east of Neem-KaThana railway station. Here the granite pegmatites are exposed in wide area in which beryl occurs as one of the constituents.FeldsparGreen variety of feldspar has been obtained from Kachrada mica mines in Torawati area and the soda feldspars have been obtained from the granite pegmatites of Buchara area as a by product of beryl mining.

MicaThe mica mines of this district are located in the schistose formation of Delhi Supergroup. A few mines of the district are at Kachrada, Makri and Maonda situated in Neem-ka- Thana tehsil. The Kachorada mines have produced green variety of mica while the others are of heavily stained ruby quality. The mines are now closed.

Soap StoneImpure talc occur near Dariba about 20 kms. from Neem-ka- Thana railway station. No detailed work on the same has yet been done.

FluorsparFluorspar mineralisation is found to occur around Salwari (Chokri) village in 10 kms. area. It is located at a distance of about 6 kms. from the main bus route from Khandela to Udaipurwati. The mineral occurs in a very fine grained pink granite which is intrusive into biotite-schist ofAjabgarh Group and is aplitic in nature.On the basis of detailed prospecting and exploratory drilling carried out by D.M.G. 3,50,900 tonnes of proved reserves containing 11 to 21% CaF2 3,44,000 tonnes of probable reserves (10to 15% CaF2) have been calculated.Iron OreDabla area :- Several scattered iron ore deposits around Dabla railway station have been reported. The area comprises medium grained pink, grey coloured granite rocks, partially weathered at surface. Iron oxide is an accessory mineral in these granites. Small segregated rolled masses of iron oxide in the form of haematite are seen. The iron content varies from 50 to 60%.Thoi area :- Occurrences of iron ore are observed east & north of Thoi village. The micaceous haematite was being mined till some time back.Neem-ka- Thana area:- This includes two deposits (i) Bagoli Sarai- Papra- Pachlangi area, which is about 10 km. west of Neem -ka- Thana railway station. The other one is (ii) Raipur- Nanawas- Toda Chiplata area which is about 16 to 22 km. east of Neem-ka-Thana railway station.. In the first deposit ore occurs as haematite quartzite bands at the contact of schists & quartiztes. In the second locality the ore body occurs as bands in the schists. The iron content varies from 59 to 67%.The ore occurs as micaceous haematite, magnetite and massive haematite bands app. 7 mts. in thicknesess striking over a length of 1.5 kms. In the same continuation small bands of iron ore occur near TodaChiplata. The ore is of inferior grade and contains high phosphorous. The average Fe content is 47% and about 0.6 million tonnes reserves have been assessed in this area. There are 3 leases of iron ore in district.

Phosphate\ Phosphate occurs in form of apatite. The apatite deposit is located near Kerpura Salwari village in rocks of Delhi

Super group and Post Delhi intrusives. Apatite occurs as irregular veins, stringers and disseminations in quartz veins, amphibolites and granite. pegmatites intruded in gametiferous biotite schist. A reserve of 21,520 tonnes of ore containing 15.14% P2O5has been proved with another 16,000 tonnes of 15 % P2O5grade in probable category.

CalciteMaonda:- The mineral occurs in steeply dipping veins near Maonda village about 7 km. from railway station. The veins are about 0.75 mt. to 1 mt. in thickness and are seen criss-crossing lime stone and microgranites. It is quarried in small pits. Two important quarries viz. the Bhilkajiwali and Bada khet in this locality have given good production.Raipur : It is about to km. from the Dabla railway station on the Rewari-Phulera chord line. Calcite occurs in the form of pockets and veins in metamorphosed impure lime stone. Department of Mines and Geology has carried out detailed prospecting work in this area and 39,300 tonnes calcite reserves have been proved.

BarytesBarytes deposits are located about 2 km. NE and SSW of the villages Kharakbingpur and Naroda respectively. The area lies 20 kms. NE of Neem-Ka-Thana on Neem-Ka- Thana to Patan road. Barytes is found as fissure filling in weak zones trending in N-S direction along bedding planes and is associted with calc-schists of Ajabgarh Group of Delhi Supergroup. There are two veins of barytes with 1 to 2.5 mts. partings and are traceable for a strike length of about 80 mts. The barytes samples on analysis shows that the percentage of BaS04 varies from 67.80 to 87.80%

Lime StonePatan: The Patan lime stone is located 16 kms. SE of Dabla railway station on Phulera -Rewari section. The lime stone of Ajabgarh Group of Delhi Supergroup occurs as a series of large & small low lying hillocks extending from Daulatpura to Balupra through Rampura and Jhamas. It is off white to grey in colour and crystalline in nature. On the basis of 255 mts. core drilling spread over 9 boreholes reserve of 6.98 million tonnes containing 46% to 54% CaO and 2 to 3.5% MgO have been estimated by the Department.Maonda: The Maonda lime stone deposits are found to occur in and around Sikarwari, Kala Khokhra, Lamba Marhi, Dhamani hill, Kali-Pahari villages.

The nearest railway station Maonda is about 11 kms. from the deposit and is located on Phulera- Rewari metergauge section. The limestone is dark grey to white in colour, crystalline, fine to coarse grained and compact. On the basis of the 20 boreholes totalling 614.0 mts. core drilling a reserve of 23 million tonnes upto 30 mts. depth containing 46% CaO, 1.75 to 2.24% MgO has been assessed by the Department,.Small bands of dolomitic limestone have been reported near Rasampura, Choja-ki-Nangal, Bhopja, Kalyanpura, Kinharu villages of Neem-Ka-Thana tehsil. It is pink and grey in colour, fine to medium grained and can be used as ornamental and flooring stone. The lime stone of Raghoji ki-Dhani and Kud ki-Dhani is being used for limestone burning. Length of the limestone band varies from 200 to 1000 mts. & width 50 to 200 mts.

MarbleMarble (dolomitic limestone) bands occur at places near Kotri, Kerpura, Karoi, Kotriluharwas etc.

villages in SriMadhopur tehsil and Rajampura Kalyanpura etc. areas in Neem ka Thana tehsil. These are white, Pink to grey in colour, fine to medium grained. Department has carried out investingations in SriMadhopur tehsiI and delineated thirty plots in govt. land. These plots were notified for leasing in1995. At present there are 55 leases of marble in the district. .Granite

A number of outcrops have been reported.Important places are Dabla, Jeetala, Kharbipura

Ajitgarh, Sirohi, Saladipura and Chapoli. The granite occur as high hillocks and in the form of isolated boundary

outcrops. The colour is mostly light earthy to pinkish with red garnet spots. It is mostly medium to coarse grained

forming an overall granular texture. Some .famous varieties are Ajitgarh Grey & Ajitgarh White. Department has

demarcated the blo,ckable granite areas & notified them as under.

Location No.of PlotsLadi-ka-Bas 402

Kala Khera 225

Jugalpura 51

Dabla 186

Biharipura 201

Jetpura 111

The details are available with Directorate of Mines & Geology ,Udaipur, Suptd. Geologist Granite Jaipur and ME

Neem-ka- Thana.

MINERAL BASED INDUSTRIES AND FUTURE SCOPEMineral based industries established in Sikar district are listed below:Cement plants:- The district has vast resources of cement grade lime stone and more than sixteen mini cement plants are located at Jilo-Maonda, Khandela Daulatpura, Sikar, Sri Madhopur, Laxmangarh etc. having a capacity of 6,000 to 60,000 TPA.Others:- There are two units manufacuring cement products like flower pots, cement screens etc.Several mineral grinding units are established near Neem -ka- Thana and Maonda . One washery of clay also exists in the district. A number of lime burning kilns are working. During last 3-4 years 43 granite & marble cutting and polishing units have been set-up . There is further scope of setting up of such industries. Stone crushing industries are also being set-up.

MINERAL ADMINISTRATIONThe state department of Mines & Geology has an office of Mining Engineer at Neem- Ka -Thana which looks ofter the mineral administration work in Sikar and Jhunjunu districts. The geological prospecting work is looked after by Superintending Geologist and Senior Geolgist, Jaipur. During the year 1997-98. Work in three areas has been proposed in Sikar district.1. Search for noble metals & base metals around Bamuara, Salwari villages, tehsil Sri Madhopur, distt. Sikar.

2. Evaluation of marble deposits in Sikar,Jhunjunu & Jaipur districts.

3. Regional geological studies to select out suitable areas for marble delineation in Neem-KaThana tehsil, dis trict Sikar & Khetri tehsil district Jhunjunu.

SATISTICAL INFORMATION OF SIKER DISTRICT FOR 1995-06.

Mineral No. of LeasesProduction (thousand tones)

Sale Value (thousand Rs.

Revenue (Thousand Rs.)

I Major Minerals

1. Lime Stone 4 221.99 155.39 3417.21

2. Iron Ore 3 3.75 225.00 24.22

3. Barytes 1 - - 4.27

4. Dolomite 4 3.19 319.00 124.42

5. Calcite 7 1.35 202.00 132.82

6. Quartz 22 5.29 634.00 406.65

7. Feldspar 4 3.06 382.00 84.84'

8. Pyrite 1 - - 30.00

9. Other - - - 79.74

II Minor Minerals

10. Brick Earth 11 104.84 4259.40 841.20

11. Masonary stone 32 20.68 80.90 2771.25

12. Limestone (Burning) 3 138.00 12420.00 3705.98

13. Kankar Bajri (STP) - 3.46 13.84 4843.669

14. Granite - 4 - - 92.61

15. Marble (Block/ Khanda) 55 15.34/3.83 2454/306 3379.44

16. Quartzite & Others 2 - - 1115.04

Unpublished Geological Reports of Sikar District (A) Department of Mines & Geology, Udaipur.

Author Title

Srivastava, S.B.L. 1957-58 Preliminary examination of limestone deposit of Maonda area

Srivastava, S.B.L., 1957-58 Preliminary report on limestone deposit of Patan and Barwa area.

Srivastava, S.B.L., 1958-59 A report on mineral survey of limestone and other minerals in Patan area.

Srivastava, S.B.L., 1957-57 Kulshrestha, N.P., 1957-58 Joshi, KC., 1951-52

A note on clay and pegmatites in Buchara and Kotri area. A note on the prospecting for lead ore in Saladipura area. Geology and mineral resources around Chowkri area.

Srivastava, S.B.L., 1960-61 Srivastava, S.B.L., 1963-64

A report on the investigation for limestone at Maonda. A peliminary report on fluorite prospecting in Chowkri-Chhapoli 'area.

Srivastava, S.B.L. and Surana, R.L.,1953-54 Dwivedi, C.S. Patel, M.S., 1961

A note on the investigation of fluorite deposit in Chowkri-Chhapoli area. Investigation report for iron ore at Toda- Chiplota and Dipas area.A report on possibility of location of 40,000 tonnes per year portland cement plant in the Neem-ka- Thana, Maondaand Patan area.

Srivastava, S.B.L. and Surana, R.L., 1965-66

A report on the investigation of fluorite deposite at ChowkriChhapoli area.

Luhadia, KC., 1967-68 Srivastava, S.B.L., 1968-69

Geological report of Calcite deposit near Raipur.A report on the investigation of apatite deposit inKerpura- Salwa area.

Agwani, M.D., 1968-69 Bhargava, M.K, 1990 Gupta, L.P., 1992-93

A report on the reconnaissance for phosphate near villageDeogarh. Note on work carried out for Bismuth near village Narda. Geological apprasal for economic minerals like crystal quartz, iron ore, garnet etc., near village Raipur and Devipura,tehsil Shahpura, district Jaipur and part of tehsil Neem-ka-Thana, district Sikar.

Dodiya, S.N., 1993-94 Preliminary mineral prospecting for economic minerals near village Rampura, Karoi and Kairpura.

Srivastava, SoB.L., 1960-61 Govind Singh, 1961-62 Srivastava, S.B.L., 1957-58

A report on the limestone investigation at Patan.Investigation for limestone at Patan.Preliminary report on the calcite and limestoneinvestigation at Raipur.

Keshwani, KB.& Bhargava, M.K, 1956 M.E.C., 1979-80

Investigation for limestone in Patan area.Geological mapping for limestone deposit near village Jillo and Maonda, tehsil Neem-ka- Thana

(lease hold area of Best Chemical limestone Ind. Pvt.Ltd.)

Keshwani, KB. & Swami, S.K, 1985Reconnaissance for economic minerals in Bai, Danta-

Ramgarh,Samer, Harsh and Rawasa area.Keshwani, KB. & Swami, S.K,1986-87 Reconnaissance for marble, limestone rock phosphate near

oda-ki-Dhani village, tehsils Kotputli and Neem-ka-Thana.

Bhargava, S.c., Swami, S.K and Keshwani, KB., 1987-88

A report on investigation for decorative stonesuch as granite and other rocks around Ajitgarh,Pithalpura and Hathora, tehsil Srimadhopur.

(B) Geological Survey of India & Others.

Saunwal, R.S., 1983-85 Report on base metals investigation in Narai area.

Kumar, V., 1985-86 Integrated remote sensings of mineralised zonesin parts of Khetri area.

Negi, RS., 1976-77 Basu, J.K, 1975-76

Areport on the basemetal investigation in Narai area. Quaternary gelogy and geomorphology of Ajitgarh- Shapura area, Sikar and Jaipur districts, with special reference to sand mobility.

Basu, J.K, 1981-82 Geological and geomorphological evaluation and enviormental appraisal in Ratangarh area, Churu and Sikar district..

Ghosh, S.P. and Dassarma, D.C.,1983-84 Report on the systematic quaternary geological mapping in the area around Lachhmangarh Gudha, Gaurji, Sikar and Khandela, Sikar and Jhunijhunu districts.

Grover, A.K ,1986-87 Integrated remote sensing studies of Northern part of Khetricopper belt and adjoining areas, Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts

Rai, RP. & et.al., 1982-83 Report on the geophysical investigation for the base metal in Narai area.

Gathania, R.c. & etal 1983-87 Structural, stratigraphy and sulphide mineralisation of south Khetri copper belt, Jhunjhunu and Sikar districts.

Dassarma, D.C.,1984-86 Geomorphological studies of factors controlling oxidation of sulphide mineralisation in the sourthern extention of the Khetri Copper belt Sikar & Jhunjhunu districts.

Gupta, D. J. Das, 1986-88 Report on investigation for phosphorite in Ajabgarh group of rocks in North-Eastern Rajasthan.

Mishra, S.P. and Agrawal, V:K, 1966-67 A note on search for base metals in parts of Sikar &,Nagaur districts

Mishra, S.P., 1968-69 A report on investigation of Dariba Gossan zone.Basu, J.K,1976-77 Report on geomorphology and quaternary geology of

BairathPawata-Kotputti area; Sikar, Jaipur and Alwar districts with special stud: on sand movement.

Rasik Ravindra& Reddy, U.SN.,1975-76 Geology of Khorandi, Mendha- Surera and marot area of Sikar and Nagaur districts.

Das, A.R and Jain, RK, 1975-76 Report on the systematic Geological mapping in Pawata, Ajitgarh and Shahpura area, Sikar & Jaipur districts.

P.P.c. Ltd.Joshi, H.C., 1964-65

Project report for exploratory cum production mining, Saladipurc Report on the Geophysical investigation for sulphide ores in the Saladipura and Seoli areas.

Jain, S.S., 1986-88 Report on investigation for search of Sn-W mineralisation in Malani Igneous suite and post Delhi granitoids of North-Eastern Rajasthan.

Muktinath & etal, 1970 Ore reserves estimates in block Band C, Saladipura area.

Ray, S.K., 1969-70 Tectonic history and controls of sulphide miner- alisationat Saladipura Seoli mineralised zone, Khetri copper belt.

R.T.Z., London Priliminary feasibility study for the Saladipuraproject. (Vol. (Vol. 1 and 2)

Sarkar, B. & etal, 1973-74 Report on Geophysical investigations for uranium- molybdenum and associated Basemetals in the Ghateswar area near Khandela.

Bose, U. ,1976-77 Geological studies of the rare earth-bearing pegmatites and the associated feldspar and clay occurrenes in the Buchara area, Sikar & Jaipur districts.

Sarkar, B. and Chakraborty, S., 1975-76 Report on the geophysical investigations for basemetals in Ahirwala and Tejwala areas.

Chattopadhyay, S., 1976-77 Report on the studies of the post Delhi granitic intrusives in the Khetri copper belt with special reference to sulphide mineralisation

Mathur, A.L., 1973-74 A.C.C.

Report on reappraisal of Coper Mineralisation in mothoka area. Report on the proving operations carried out in Neem-ka- Thana limestone deposits.

Gupta, S.N., 1963-64 Preliminary investigation of the iron ore deposits near Bagoli-Sarai, Gaonli, Naidhani, Piao-ki- Khan, Narda-Nanowas and Papra villages.

Pahuja, R.P.S. & Ramalingham, G. 1976-77 Report on the systematic geological mapping of area betwenFatehpur, Salasar and Mitri; Churu, Nagaur & Sikar districts.

Gangopadhyay, S., 1974-75 Report on the investigation for Molybdenum- Uranium and associated minerals in the Ghateswar and Khandela areas

.