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ECONOMIC TRENDS
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Minerals.
Wani tahsil contains a coal field in which it has been estimated that more than 2,100 million tons of coal are available, some hundreds of millions of tons being above the 500 feet level. Direct evidence of the occurrence of coal has been obtamed along lines of ten and thirteen miles [Central Provinces District Gazetteers, Yeotmal, Vol. A. 1908, p. 147.]. The coal is easily accessible and is good, though not of first class quality. Wani tahsil also contains iron-ore at Yenuk. about 14 miles southeast of Wani: slate in the Patan-Bori area towards the south of the boundary between Wani and Kelapur tahsils; clays, ochres, soapstone and silicious sand in Wani area; and limestone both in the north and
along the Penganga river in the south. All these are of good quality[Central Provinces
Ditistrict Gazetteers, Yeotmal, Vol. A, 1908.].
The coal-fields at Wani and Rajura yielding non-coking coal are very important economically. Construction of the railway
line in this area has facilitated the economical exploitation of the
valuable coal deposits. The Directorate of Geology and Mining. Nagpur, conducted an intensive survey of the limestone deposits near Rajur which conform to the requirements of the cement industry. This investigation shows that limestone extends over a stretch of about six miles along the strike, and passes through several villages viz., Kalmana, Nagola. Akapur, Sonapur, Lakhpur and Wanjri. The deposits occupy a width of about a mile. Outcrops of limestone are seen at many places and a number of quarries are in active operation. A number of samples which were collected from various quarry faces in outcrops have shown that silica and magnes'a do nor exceed four per cent and two per cent, respectively. The necessary analytical tests were under taken, and it was found that the limestone accords to the requirements of a cement factory. Accordingly a licence, under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act. for a cement factory with an installed capacity of 2.4 lakh tons per annum was granted.
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