The vast and largely unexplored mineral treasure of the State offers opportunities for mining and value addition.

Dimensional Stones: The State has substantial reserves of different varieties of dimensional stones like marble, granite, sandstone and slate with tremendous export potential and forward linkages with the booming construction industry. Potential also lies in value addition by manufacturing various architectural elements and artifacts like grizzlies, pillars, columns, slabs and show pieces, etc.

Base & Noble Metals: Rajasthan has largest potential belt for base metals and noble metals in the country, which extend over a length of about 650 km with 60-90 km width and extending from Alwar in north to Banswara and Dungarpur in South passing through Jhunjhunu, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Sirohi and Udaipur districts.

State has about 210 million tonnes of identified reserves of lead-zinc ore with 1.45% Pb and Zn, 639 million tonnes of copper ore reserves containing 0.80 to 1.2% copper. Gold prospects have also been recently reported in Banswara, Udaipur, Alwar and Dausa districts. Base metal and noble metal deposit/prospects, which may be explored for mining, are:

• Copper Prospect: Udaipur, Sirohi, Rajsamand, Alwar, Jhunjhunu
  
• Lead-zinc-copper prospect: Banswara
  
• Gold prospect: Banswara
  
• Gold-silver prospect: Banswara
  
• Copper-gold and platinum prospect: Ajmer

These prospects may be exploited by setting up of centralised small smelters at Udaipur, Bhilwara, Sirohi and Alwar.

Lignite
Rajasthan has more than 4300 million tonnes of lignite reserves in Barmer, Bikaner and Nagaur districts.Lignite currently is being produced at Giral area in Barmer and Matasukh area in Nagaur district. In last few years, 10 lignite blocks in Barmer, Bikaner and Nagaur districts have been allotted for setting up Thermal Power Plants.

Cement
Rajasthan has huge reserves of cement grade and SMS grade limestone. SMS grade limestone of Jaisalmer district is supplied to various steel plants of the country. The State has 16% share in cement production in the country. Currently, 14 major cement plants and two medium cement plants are in operation in the State with a total installed capacity of about 20.30 million tonnes per annum. Given the availability of huge cement grade limestone reserves, more than 10 cement plants will be installed in the State in near future, particularly in Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur and Pali.

Major Existing Players

• Shree Cement
• Birla Cement
• Grasim Cement
• Ambuja Cement
• ACC Cements
• Bangur Cement
• Binani Cement
• Laxmi Cement

Ceramics
With excellent availability of clay and feldspar, Rajasthan is an excellent location for ceramic and related industry (white-ware, floorings, bone-china, etc.). The State is already home to some of the largest ceramics and bone-china units in India.

Major Existing Players

• Kajaria
• Liberty
• Jaipur Ceramics