GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF
SRI GANGANAGAR, AND HANUMANGARH DISTRICTS
Introduction
According to Mahabharat, the tenitory of Bikaner state was known as Janglu, from this, the king
of Bikaner got the respect in the form of a slogan "Jai Jangaldhar Badhshah".
Both Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh the districts were parts of eartwhile Bikaner state. Sri
Ganganagar (lat. 28°43' to 30°06' : long.72°39' to 74°19') is 250 kms north of Bikaner falling on
N.H. 15. Sri Ganganagar has international boundary of India & Pakistan in the western side and
was named after Maharaja Gangasingh. Hanumangarh (lat.28°46' to 29°57' : long.73°46' to
75°30') is 64 kms. southeast of Sri Ganganagar and 50 kms. northeast of Suratgarh. Previously it
was known as Bhatner. Later on king Surat Singh in 1805 gave it a new name Hanumangarh. Sri
Ganganagar was declared a district on 30th March, 1949 while Hanumangarh was separated
from Sri Ganganagar and declaired a separate district in July, 94.
Administrative sub-divisions
Administrative sub-divisionsofthe districts given below:
Districts
Subdivision
Tehsils
1.Sri Ganganagar
Sri Ganganagar
1. Ganganagar
2. Sadulshahar
Karanpur
1. Karanpur
2. Padampur
Raisinghnagar
1.Raisinghnagarh
2. Viajynagar
2. Hanumangarh
Suratgarh
1. Suratgarh
Anupgarh
1. Anupgarh
Gharsana
1. Gharsana
Hanumangarh
1. Hanumangarh
Sangaria
1. Sangaria
Tibi
1. Tibi
Pilibanga
1. Pilibanga
Noahar
1. Noahar
Bhadra
1. Bhadra
Rawatser
1. Rawatser
Administrative Set-up of the Department
The geological work in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts is carried out by the Suptdg.
Geologist, Bikaner and Senior Geologist, Bikaner, which falls under jurisdiction of Addl.
Director, Geol., Jodhpur' Zone. Mineral administration is looked after by Asst. Mining Engineer,
Sri Ganganagar, which falls under jurisdiction of Suptdg. Mining Engineer, Bikaner and Addl.
Director, Mines, Jodhpur Zone. The telephone Nos. of these offices are:
1. Addl. Director, Mines, Jodhpur Zone
0291-2511656
2. Addl. Director, Geol., Jodhpur Zone
0291-2510208
3. Suptdg. Geologist, Bikaner
0151-2544346
4. Suptdg. Mining Engineer, Bikaner
0151-2545197
5. Senior Geologist ,Bikaner
0151-2544346
6. Asstt. Mining Engineer, Sri Ganganagar
0154-2463199
Topography & Drainage
Both the districts have plain surface covered with thick layer of alluvium and wind blown sand.
No important hill exists in both the districts, however, on the bank of dried up Saraswati and
Drishad Vati rivers, ridges rises above the ground level. Comparatively the northern portion of
the district is well wooded as compared to the southern and south-eastern portion. The height of
both the districts varies between 168 and 227 m. above the mean sea level. Ghaggar river, locally
known as Nali, is an ephemeral one and has northeast to southwest course near Hanumangarh. It
sometimes get flooded during the monsoon. The Gang canal and Indira Gandhi canal have put
the district on the agriculture map of India.
Several exploration and excavations made by archeological experts have proved that the
civilisation of Indus valley had extended up to these districts and it was inhabited by the people
akin to those who had flourished at Mohan jo-diaro and Harappa.
2. Geology
Both the districts have plain topography covered with a thick layer of alluvium and wind blown
sand. It displays a general slope towards west with the gradient of about 4-5 metre per kilometer.
The sand dunes are generally 4 to 5 metres high except in the south western part where they are
more intensely developed, being sometimes 10 to 15 metres in height.
Geology is marked by a thick cover of blown sand and alluvium except for a few isolated
patches of Recent calcareous and sandy sediments associated with gypsite/ gypsum. However,
the geological column, built up with the help of sub-surface data obtained from dugwells reveal
that the oldest rocks in the area belong to the Aravalli Super group which includes phyllite, shale
and quartz veins. These are overlain by the rocks of upper Vindhyans which are entirely made up
of bright to pale red, fine and medium grained, compact sandstone and siltstone which are seen
in dugwells near Dalenan, Jaitsar, Pichgarain and many other places. The wind blown sand of
Recent to sub-Recent periods is mainly consists of quartz with minor biotite and magnetite.
Gypsite rich beds are found in shallow depression surrounded by sand dunes.
Apart from this, scattered occurrences of saltpetre are seen in number of intradunal basins.
Stratigraphical succession of the rock formations occurrng in both these districts is shown below:
Geological Succession
Age
Formation
Recent to sub-Rrecent
Blown sand, alluvium, isolated
calcareous and sandy sediments
associated with gypsite.
Upper Vindhyan Supergroup
Bright to pale red, fine and
medium grained, compact
.
sandstone and siltstone
Aravalli Supergroup
Phyllite, shale and quartz veins.
3. Mineral Resources of Sri Ganganagar & Hanumangarh Districts:
Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts occupy fairly good position in minerals like gypsum,
saltpetre and potash. Mineralwise details are as follows:
1. Gypsum: It is hydrated calcium sulphate CaSO 4. 2H20. The gypsum/ gypsile deposits of the
area occur in a shallow basin and belong to sub-Recent formation, deposited in inland saline
lakes and lagoons as a result of evaporation. F.C.I. has indicated 54 localities of gypsum
occurrences. Details of reserves, thickness and quality etc. are given below :
Gypsum is an important industrial mineral. It is used as a retarder in cement , as a fertilizer, as a
filler in various materials, such as paper, crayons, paints, rubber etc. and in manufacture of
plaster of Paris. Calcined gypsum is extensively employed in the building trade for the
production of various types of plastrs, sheets and boards and stucco work. Gypsum has been
opened for private sector by government of India as per the decision work to be implimented by
the Mineral Policy 1993. The state government is actively considering the central government's
directives. A large number of private enterprenurs are waiting eagerly to start minig of gypsum
as
soon
as
the
state
government
throws
it
open
for
private
sector.
Future Outlook:
Previously gypsum was largely used in major cement plants and was transported to long
distances but coming up of large number of mini cement plants in Bikaner division, numbering
around 21. The adjacent districts of Nagaur and Sikar also consume gypsum in mini cement
plants located in these districts.
Now mining leases have been applied for Lalani, Kharsandi, Jodhasar and Sorani areas in
Hanumangarh district.
Tehsil wise Gypsum mining leases of Sri Ganganagar &
Hanumangarh districts (2004-05) .
Near Village
No. of leases
Lease holder
District Hanumangarh
i.
Teh.- Rawatsar
Purabsar
1
RSMM
Nolakhi
1
RSMM
Chanderi
1
RSMM
Total
3
District Sri Ganganagar
i.
ii.
Teh.- Suratgarh
Raghunathpura main
1
FCI
Raghunathpura - I
1
FCI
Karnisar
1
FCI
Teh.- Gharsana
Dehli
1
Anandgarh
1
Total
5
Production (2003-04)
S.No.
Mineral
No: of leases
Production
Labours engaged
(in tonnes)
1.
Gypsum
8
7,81,629.2
5,00
Saltpetre or Potassium Nitrate KN03
Saltpetre occurs as a surface efflorescence in soil in parts of the Hanumangarh, Suratgarh, Nohar
and Bhadra tehsils of Hanumangarh district. Potash salts are brought to the surface in solution by
capillary action and remain as an efflorescence on the soil on evaporation. Evaporation and
simple process of refining which reduces other salts especialy the sodium chloride, pure or
nearly pure saltpetre is produced. It is an essential commodity in manufacture of many chemicals
and even in heavy industry. It is also used as fertilizer.
Saltpetre occurrences have been noted at following places:
Out of the above mentioned deposits, Badopal of tehsil Pilibanga, Massani of tehsil Tibi,
Rangmahal of tehsil Suratgarh, Fatehgarh and Amarpura areas in 1 Hanumangarh tehsil have
good deposits
Saltpetre is being mined as a top layer of the soil cover, scrapped manually which contains 8 to
10% KN03 at an average. Then the soil is subjected to make brine solution which is sent to
drying pans to recover saltpetre which is sent to drying pans to recover saltpetre which contains
30 to 40% KN03. This concentrated material is further given heat treatment for further
beneficiation at the saltpetre factory. The final product contains 80 to 98% KN03 content.
In total there are two blanket leases of saltpetre in both the districts:
Tehsil
Tehsil revenue boundary of Hanumangarh
No. of leases
1
Tehsil revenue boundary of Gharsana, Anupgarh
Vijainagar, Suratgarh, Pilibanga, Sangaria,
1
Sadulshahar, Nohar, Bhadra, Tibbi Sadulpur etc.
Halites and Associated Potash Salts
G.S.I. has identified halite and associated potash 'salts in Ganganagar district. As the potentialarea of exploration for 'Potash', having suitable geological environment for deposition of marine
potash, has been located in Sri Ganganagar.
Potassium is one of the three key chemical elements used in fertilizers. The most prevalent
form in which it is used is the mariate of Potash (Ke) vaguely called 'Potash' is obtained from
thick sequence of halite (rock-salt). India produces a meagre quantity of 'Potash' as a by-product
in the manufacture of salt from sea water and imports almost its requirement from Canada and
Europeon countries. This import is costing the country a huge amount of foreign exchange.
The area contains a very thick sub-surface evaporite sequence mainly composed of halides
(Sodium chloride) included within Marwar Supergroup. Potash mineralisation is in the form of
Polyhalite (K2 Mg CS2 (S04)4 2H20 and Sylvite (Potassium Chloride). Few boreholes drilled
around Hanumangarh have intersected these halides (halite & sylvite) and revealed that these
occur as specks, pods, stringers, laminae and irregular beds within halite. Thickness of potash
bearing zones with in halite varies between 0.50 metre and 15. 31.67 metre and potash contents
0.20. to 19.2% at a depth 16. ranging from 385.83 to 965.58 metre.
A tentative resource of potash so far estimated around few positive boreholes in Hanumangarh
area is of the order of 6.797 million tonnes while that of halite (exceeding 90% NaCI) is more
than 6 million tonnes. (Source GSI 125th Anniversary Publication 1976).
Brick Earth
335 brick kilns are running in both Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. Top layer of soil
which is admixture of clay, is used for making bricks. 5 to 7 metre thick column of clayey soil is
found at different places in the district is used for this purpose. There is no stone quarry in the
district so only bricks are used in construction.
Tehsilwise details of mineral concessions
Mineral –Saltpetre
S.No.
Name of Villages
No. of Leases
1.
Teshil revenue boundray
1
of Hanumangarh
2.
Tehsil revenue boundary of
1
Suratgarh, Ttibi, Sadulshahar
Pilibanga, Vijainagar etc.
Total
2
Mineral-Brick Earth:
S.No.
Name of tehsil
No. of STP*
1.
Sri Ganganagar
33
2.
Sadulshahar
17
3.
Karanpur
12
4.
Padampur
12
5.
Raisingh Nagar
11
6.
Vijaynagar
31
7.
Suratgarh
37
8.
Anupgarh
28
9.
Gharsana
18
10.
Hanumangarh
44
11.
Sangaria
12
12.
Tibi
7
13.
Pilibanga
24
14.
Nohar
17
15.
Bhadra
24
16.
Rawatsar
8
* Short Termit Permit as on 11.10.2004.