GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF
DHOLPUR DISTRICT
Dholpur district is situated in north-east corner of Rajasthan. It was declared as
the 27th district of the State in the year 1982. Prior to this it was a sub-division of
Bharatpur district. Dholpur is the smallest district of the state and lies between latitudes
22° 22' to 26° 67' and longitude 77° 14' to 78° 16' covering 3004 sq. km. area. It is
bounded in the north by Bharatpur (Raj.) and Agra (U.P.) districts, in South by Muraina
(U.P.) and Gwalior (M.P.) districts and in the west by Karauli district. The district has
four Panchayat Samities, viz. Basedi, Bari, Dholpur and Rajakhera and five
Rocks of Bhander Group of Vindhyan Supergroup are exposed in the southern
part of the district. The Rewa Group is represented by Indergarh sandstone. Its outcrops
are exposed in west of Baseri and northwest of Sepau along the border. This is
conformably overlain by rocks of Bhander Group, comprising Sirbu shale and Upper
Bhander sandstone. The Sirbu shale occurs with interbeds of stromatolitic limestone,
which is intermittantly exposed along the southern margin of the district bordering M.P.
It is confirmably overlain by the upper Bhander sandstone which is well axposed in south
west of Dholpur.
tehsils, viz. Basedi, Bari, Dholpur, Rajakhera and Sepau. Topographically, most
of the part of the district has rugged topography formed by the rocks of Vindhyan
Supergroup. Chambel is the only perenial river of the district. This river flows along the
eastern border of the district as well as borders of the state seperating Rajasthan from
Madhya Pradesh.
Geology :- Geologically the district comprises rocks of Rewa and Upper Bhander Groups
of Vindhyan Supergroup. The Stratigraphic succession of the district is shown as below:
Quartenary
Vindhyan
-
Soil & Alluvium
Upper Bhander (Maihar) Sandstone with
intercalations of shale
Upper Bhander Group
Sirbu Shale with stromatolitic limestone
Super Group
Rewa Group
Lower Rewa (Indergarh) Sandstone
Mineral Resources
The mineral wealth of the district is constituted mainly by sandstone & limestone.
A total of 87 mining leases are existing in the district.
Dholpur district is known for its unique Sandstone. In general Dholpur sandstone
is fine to medium grained, compact, resistant to acid, available in differente shades and
colours and can be easily dressed and chiseled. It takes good polish at cut surface. The
colour of the sandstone depends on the constituents of the cementing meterial. The
famous Dholpur sandstone is being used in Rajasthan as will as in neighbouring states
since centuries as building and dimensional stone. The famous historical buildings like
Rashtrapati Bhawan, Red Forts of Agra and Delhi, Vidhansabha Bhawan, Jaipur and
many other forts are built by the Dholpur sandstone. It is being used in roofing, flooring,
panelling, beams; pillars, door and window sills, cladding, wall fancing, making of statue,
perforated windows, jalies and carved decorative articles. Details of the important
sandstone localities of the district
are given below.
Tehsil
Village
1. Bari
Kankrai, Dhimri, Tanoti, Totpur, Naksonda, Richhai,
Chilaghund, Bhola Ka Pura, Birpur, Basai, Dang, Khanpur Gurjar,
Bijauli, Maidana, Barauli Ka Pura, Talab Sahi, Janura.
2. Baseri
Kachchhanpura, Khidarpur, Angai, Thawa, Dhond, Bidarpur,
Tilawa, Birja, Dhor, Nandanpur, Tajpur, Sar Mathura, Badarea,
Chand, Kharagpura.
The deposits mentioned above have splittable and blockable sandstone. The
blocks of 8'x4'x3' and even bigger size can be excavated. In general, Dholpur Sandstone
contains 98.20% SiO2, 0.840% Fe2O3, 0.32% Al2O3, 0.28% CaO, MgO is absent and loss
on ignition is nil. Physically this sandstone has 2.40 kg/m3 density, 1.20% Water
absorption, 208 kg/cm2 Modulus of Rupture and 460 kg/cm2 compressive strength.
A total of 64 leases of sandstones are in operation in the district.
Lime Stone: The Vindhyan Limestone occurs in and along the banks of Chambal
river. It is grey in colour, fine to medium grained and massive. At present, there is no
mining lease for limestone. The main locations of limestone are Sawar Pali, Basai Dang
and Rojai Kalan in tehsil Dholpur.
Masonry Stone: The sandstone which is hard and compact but does not has
splittability, is used as masonry stone in the form of Khanda, Gitty & boulders. The
leases of Khanda, Gitty, boulders & Bajari are distributed throught the district. It is also
supplied to the neighbouring parts of M.P. and V.P. States. The prominent deposits are
listed below:
Tehsil
Village
1. Dholpur
Chandpura, Narpura, Bhilgaon, Surajpura, Bishnoda, Kotra,
Panch Gaon, Purani Chhawani.
2. Rajakhera
Pahari, Mairana.
3. Sepau
Rundh-Rajaura.
There are 22 working leases for masonry stone are existing in the district.
Mineral Administration: The Mineral Administration in the district is looked
after by Mining Engineer, Dholpur under supervision of the Superintending Mining
Engineer, Bharatpur and Addl. Director, Mines, Jaipur Zone. The geological work is
carried out by the Senior Geologist, Alwar, who works under the supervision of the
Superintending Geologist, Jaipur Region and Addl. Director, Geology, Jaipur Zone.
The telephone numbers of these offices are given below:
Addl. Director, Mines, Jaipur Zone, Jaipur
Addl. Director, Geology, Jaipur Zone, Jaipur
Superintending Mining Engineer, Bharatpur
:
:
:
0141-2227505 (0)
0141-2227234 (0) 2308239(R
05644-222421 (0)
-
Superintending Geologist, Jaipur Region, Jaipur
:
0141- 2224687(0) 2391848(R
Mining Engineer, Dholpur
:
05642-220762 (0) 220762 (R
Senior Geologist, Alwar
:
0144-2731099 (0)
Mineral statistics of Dholpur District (Year 2004-05)
S.N o. Minerals
1.
2.
3.
Sandstone
Limestone
Masonry stone
No. of leases
Production
(000 tonnes)
Sale value
(Rs. in Lacs)
Revenue
(Rs in .000)
65
22
589.73
532.60
1769.19
166.00
34462.15
304.89
Unpublished Geological Reports of Dholpur district
A. Department of Mines & Geology
Swami, S.K.; A report on study of splittable sandstone in Bari-Karauli area.
(FS.1982-83,R-811).
Luhadia, K.C.; A report on reconnaissance studies for splittable sandstone and
other economic minerals in extension of lease hold area, and regional report of Dholpur
distt. (F.S. 1985-86, R-923).
Jain, Rajesh & Verdia, P.K.; A report on study of splittable sandstone in Dholpur
distt (FS. 93-94 , R-1311).
Purohit, S.N., Nirwan, G.S. & Swami, S.K.; Regional assessment of splittable
sandstone around villages Bansara, Jaipur, Dhaur and Pipraun, teh. Baseri, distt. Dholpur
(R-1394).
Shekhawat, P.S. & Bhardwaj, A; Evaluation of sandstone deposits in the Dholpur
distt. (FS. 97-98, R-1435).
Shekhawat, P.S. & Bhardwaj, A; Regional Mineral Survey for locating potential
sandstone areas around village Sanora, Khanpur, distt. Dholpur (F.S. 96-97, R-1436).
Shekhawat, P.S. & Sharma, Ajay; To locate potential splittable sandstone area N
/V Bari, Khatenpura, Khanpur etc., teh. Bari, distt. Dholpur. (F.S. 98-99, R-1437).
Shekhawat, P.S. & Sharma, Ajay; To locate potential splittable sandstone area
around villages Barauli, Manpuras, Udalpura etc., teh. Sirmathura, distt. Dholpur (F.S.
97-98, R-1438).
Shekhawat, P.S. & Sharma, Ajay; To locate potential splittable sandstone area
near villages Birja, Dhamoh, Sone Ka Gurja, Golari etc., teh. Bari, distt. Dholpur (FS. 992000, R-1439).
Swami, S.K. & Purohit, S.N.; Regional assessnent of splittable sandstone around
villages Bansari, Tajpur, Dhaur and Pipraun, teh. Baseri, distt. Dholpur (R-1570).
Shekhawat, P.S. & Jangid, O.P.; To locate potential splittable sandstone area
around villages Kot, Bajna, Pipraun, Tajpur etc. of tehsil Baseri, distt. Dholpur (R-1786).
B. Geological Survey of India
Sahu, R.L.; Geological Mapping of Vindhyan Part-A, Maraiona-Rajakheda,
Dholppr district. Part-B, Baretyha_Sepau area, Bharatpur and Dhaulpur districts,
Rajasthan. (F.5.1986-87,R-1761).
Bavaji, I.R.; A report on resistivity survey in parts of Gambhiri river basin in
Eastern Rajasthan (R-1801