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Minerals
A homogeneous, naturally occurring substance (crystalline elements or of elements) with a definable internal structure.
All rocks on earth’s surface or below it contains Minerals.
e.g. hardest as diamond and softest as talc.
Economic or commercial viability of minerals depend upon various factors like- concentration of minerals in ores, ease of
extraction and closeness of market and other supportive infrastructure and services
Rocks: A combination of minerals in varying proportions.
Ores: A collection of any mineral mixed with other elements. Minerals are extracted from these ores if there is sufficient
concentration of mineral.
Mode of occurrence or forms in which minerals are found
Igneous and metamorphic rocks- (veins and lodes) e.g. Tin, Cooper, zinc, lead
Sedimentary rocks- (beds and layers) e.g. coals, iron (due to intense heat and pressure) gypsum, potash salt and
sodium salt (due to evaporation)
Residual mass of weathered material- e.g. bauxite
Alluvial deposits- placer deposits e.g. gold, silver, tin and platinum.
Ocean water- common salt, manganese nodules
Describe the distribution of minerals in India.
Ans.
i. India is fortunate to have fairly rich and varied mineral resources.
ii. In Peninsular plateau the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many other non-metallic minerals are found.
iii. In the sedimentary rocks of Gujarat and Assam most of the petroleum deposits are found.
iv. In Rajasthan reserves of many non-ferrous minerals are found.
v. The alluvial plains of north India are almost devoid of economic minerals.
Mention the factors which play an important role in affecting the economic viability of a reserve.
Ans. The factors are:
i. The concentration of mineral in the ore,
ii. The ease of extraction
iii. Closeness to the market.
Ferrous Minerals
Iron Ore (Australia first and India 4th in the world)
Iron is the backbone of modern civilization and industrial development It is a basic mineral in our life.
India is rich in iron reserves both by quality and quantity.
The two important variety of iron ores-
Magnetite:
a. finest iron ore.
b. Iron content up to 70 per cent.
c. excellent magnetic qualities
d. Valuable in the electrical industry.
Hematite:
e. important industrial iron ore.
f. largest used iron ore in terms of the quantity.
g. iron content than magnetite. (50-60 per cent).
Major Iron belts of India
1. Odisha-Jharkhand belt : good quality of hematite iron ore found
• Odisha- Badampahar mines in Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts
• Jharkhand- Gua and Noamundi mines in Sighbhum district
2. Durg- Bastar: Chandrapur belt (Chattisgarh and Maharashtra)
Bailadila Range of hills (Bastar district of Chhattisgarh)
High grade hematite iron ore suitable for steel making steel.
Exported to Japan & S Korea via Vishakhapatnam Port
3. Ballare – Chitradurga-Chikkamangaluru Tumakuru belt (Karnataka)
• Kudremukh mines – in western ghats of Karnataka
100% export unit
