Mineral Resources of India - Summary
Hello, Friends! Today we are excited to share the **Mineral Resources of India PDF** for your convenience. If you are looking for the **Mineral Resources of India** in **PDF format**, you’re in the right place! You can easily download it from the link provided at the bottom of this page. Inside, you’ll discover various types of mineral resources found in India.
A mineral is a natural substance that can be either organic or inorganic and has specific chemical and physical properties. India is blessed with a rich variety of mineral resources due to its diverse geological formations. Most of these valuable minerals date back to the pre-Palaeozoic era. These mineral resources are essential for the country’s industrial growth. In this section, we will explore the availability of different types of mineral and energy resources in India.
Understanding Types of Mineral Resources
Categories of Mineral Resources
- Metallic Minerals
- Ferrous (e.g., Iron, Manganese, etc.)
- Non-Ferrous (e.g., Copper, Bauxite, etc.)
- Non-Metallic Minerals
- Fuel Minerals (e.g., Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, etc.)
- Other Non-Metallic Minerals (e.g., Mica, Limestone, Graphite, etc.)
Key Minerals in India for UPSC Preparation
Minerals are found within the earth’s crust, embedded in rocks. After refining, we can extract metals from these minerals. Each mineral consists of uniform components, while rocks comprise different minerals in varying proportions. For example, some rocks, like limestone, are made entirely of one mineral.
Minerals can be found in cracks, fissures, faults, and joints within igneous and metamorphic rocks. Smaller occurrences are called veins, while larger ones are referred to as lodes. If you’re studying minerals in India for your IAS Exam, keep reading!
List of Major Minerals in India
Here are some major minerals that are important for **UPSC 2022**:
- Uranium
- Coal
- Gold
- Iron ore
- Lead
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Tungsten
- Diamond
- Feldspar
- Quartz
- Mica
Major Mineral Producing States in India
In India, most metallic minerals are located in ancient crystalline rocks, especially on the peninsular plateau. Over 97% of coal deposits can be found in the Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi, and Godavari basins. Petroleum is mainly located in the Assam, Gujarat, and Mumbai High sedimentary basins, which are offshore in the Arabian Sea. Recently, new deposits have been discovered in the Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins. Overall, minerals are concentrated in three large regions, although solitary deposits can be found elsewhere.
- Plateau Region, North-Eastern India: This includes Chhotanagpur (Jharkhand), the Odisha Plateau, West Bengal, and parts of Chhattisgarh. It is rich in minerals like iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite, and mica.
- The South-Western Plateau: This belt runs through Karnataka, Goa, and the uplands of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Here, bauxite and ferrous metals are abundant, along with high-grade iron ore, manganese, and limestone. Except for Neyveli lignite, coal reserves are dense in this area. However, the mineral diversity is less than in the north-eastern region. Kerala is known for its monazite and thorium resources, while Goa has iron ore.
- The North-Western Region: This area contains minerals tied to the Dharwar system of rocks, especially along the Aravali mountains. Important minerals here include copper and zinc. Rajasthan offers construction materials like sandstone, granite, and marble, along with gypsum and fuller earth. The cement industry benefits from dolomite and limestone in this region. Gujarat is recognized for its oil and gas reserves, and both Gujarat and Rajasthan have large salt deposits.
- The Himalayan belt harbors reserves of copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, and tungsten. Mineral oil resources are located in the Assam valley, while the offshore Mumbai coast is rich in oil reserves (Mumbai High).
Your Guide to Mineral Resources of India
You can easily **download** the **Mineral Resources of India PDF** using the link given below.
