Due to its varied geological structure, India is endowed with a rich variety of mineral resources. North India, which is covered by alluvial plain tracts are devoid of minerals or economic use. The mineral resources provide the country with the necessary base for industrial development. In this article, we will discuss the location of minerals in India and the development of mineral industries in India since independence. Distribution of minerals in India is a very important topic for UPSC CSE Prelims and you can expect questions from this section every year.
Minerals are generally concentrated in three broad belts in India.
Sl. No. | Mineral | Location |
1. | Bauxite | Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra |
2. | Chromite | 95 per cent resources are located in Orissa, 5% resources are distributed in Manipur and Karnataka. |
3. | Copper | Largest reserve: Rajasthan, MP, Jharkhand. Also in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. |
4. | Gold | Largest reserve: Bihar, Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh. In terms of metal content, Karnataka, Rajasthan, WB and Bihar. |
5. | Iron ore | Largest haematite reserve: Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Goa |
6. | Lead-Zinc | Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya |
7. | Manganese | Largest reserve: Odisha, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, AP, Jharkhand & Goa. |
8. | Nickel | Largest reserve: Odisha, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Karnataka |
9. | Diamond | Madhya Pradesh, AP, Chhatisgarh |
10. | Gypsum | Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. |
11. | Graphite | Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, TN, Odisha |
12. | Limestone | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. |
13. | Mica | Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan. |
14. | Magnesite | Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, TN, AP, HP, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala. |
15. | Coal | Gondwana sediments occurring mainly in the eastern and central parts of Peninsular India. Tertiary coal-bearing sediments are found in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya. |
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