Mineral Resources of India

Mineral Resources:

 

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A. Major mineral belts are in North East, South, South West and North West India. The country majorly imports Copper, Lead (75%) and Zinc. sstr
B. Minerals occur in:

• Igneous and metamorphic rocks: minerals are present in cracks and joints of these rocks. Smaller occurrences are called 'veins' and larger are called 'lodes' which are formed when minerals n molten and gaseous form erupt through cavities and settle down. E.g. tin, copper, zinc and lead
• Sedimentary rocks: occur in beds or layers and are formed due to decomposition. Coal and iron ore are formed due to heat and pressure; gypsum and potash salt formed due to evaporation in arid areas.
• Minerals also occur in residual mass of the weathered material. E.g. Bauxite
• As alluvial deposits and are not corroded by water. E.g. gold, silver, platinum
• Ocean waters: e.g. Manganese, salt
C. Metallic Minerals
• Iron Ore:
  1. it has 4 varieties; Magnetite (possesses magnetic properties; finest form with 70% pure iron), Hematite (60-70% pure iron), Limonite(40-60% pure iron) and Siderite (40-50% pure iron; presence of lime)
  2. Iron ore mining started in India in 1904 in Bihar
  3. Japan is the biggest importer of iron ore from India
  4. Richest Hematite found in Orissa, Koira Valley
  5. Largest Mechanized mine of Asia in Chhattisgarh, called Bailadila mine (Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt)
  6. Highest quality iron ore found in Jharkhand
  7. Maximum reserves in Jharkhand, then Orissa and Karnataka(Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur Belt)
  8. Maximum ore producing states are Karnataka, then Orissa and Chhattisgarh
• Manganese:
  1. Used in manufacturing of steel and Ferro-manganese alloy, bleaching powder, insecticides and paints
  2. Orissa largest producer(1/3rd), Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Copper: critically deficient in India; found maximum in Madhya Pradesh(52%) and Karnataka
• Bauxite: maximum produced by Orissa (45%) and Gujrat
• Gold:
1. The gold occurs in auriferous lodes and also found in river sands
2. Largest producer is Kolar in Karnataka
3. The first mining operations took place in Kolar Gold fields in 1871 and the main production mine is one of the deepest in the world
• Silver:
1. Found in 4 forms Agnetite, Stephanite, Pyragyrite, Proustite and with mixture of other metals
2. Major production by Rajasthan
D. Non- Metallic Minerals:
• Mica
1. Used in electric and electronic industries
2. Jharkhand is the leading producer, also in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh
3. Three types: Muscovite, Phlogopite and Biotite
4. India produces maximum i.e. 60% of world's Mica and largest exporter
• Limestone
1. Basic raw material for cement industry and smelting iron ore
2. Found in sedimentary rocks
3. Maximum production by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan
• Dolomite:
1. Made from mixing Limestone with more than 10% Magnesium
2. Largest producer is Orissa
• Asbestos:
1. Has high tensile strength
2. Chrysolite most important variety
3. Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh are the largest producers
• Uranium
1. Largest source of uranium comprises monazite sands (beach and alluvial)
2. Found maximum on Kerala Coast, Jharkhand, Bihar and UP