v Natural Resources v
Non-Renewable Resources : Rajasthan has
large deposits of important minerals with the State's mineral base being next only to
Bihar. Non-metallic minerals predominate in Rajasthan, the principal ones being asbestos,
emerald, felspar, garnet, gypsum, lignite, limestone, mica, quartz, silica sand, soapstone
and vermiculite. Among the metallic minerals, the principal ones are copper ore, lead-zinc
ore, worlframite (tungsten ore) and iron ore.
Rajasthan also
has large deposits of various building, decorative and ornamental stones. These include
marble, sandstone, Kota stone, Jodhpur stone, Dholpur stone, Karoli stone, slate and
granite. Only small portions of these deposits have been exploited so far.
The state has a near monopoly in the country in respect of
minerals like lead-zinc ore, asbestos, calcite, gypsum and soapstone. The Western parts of
the State also have natural gas reserves. Under the constitution of India, mineral rights
and administration of mining laws are vested in the State Government.
Renewable Resources : Rajasthan's
renewable resources comprise its agriculture and livestock base.
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the people
of Rajasthan. Its principal cereal crops are wheat, maize, jowar, bajra, gram and pulses
while its commercial crops include groundnut, soyabean, rapeseed, mustard, linseed and
cotton etc.
The 1988 livestock census places the state's livestock
population at over 50 million. Udaipur, Barmer, Jaipur and Nagour are the districts with
the highest concentration of livestock. This resource has resulted in large availability
of raw materials for the leather goods and wood industry in the State.
