Minerals are natural substances obtained from the earth and used in industry and daily life. India has rich mineral deposits, mostly in the peninsular plateau. Knowing the types of minerals and their producing states is useful for geography and economy sections of exams.
Types of Minerals
- Metallic minerals - contain metals, like iron ore, bauxite and manganese.
- Non-metallic minerals - do not contain metals, like mica, limestone and gypsum.
- Energy minerals - like coal and petroleum.
Iron Ore and Manganese
- India has large reserves of iron ore; major states are Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Karnataka.
- The best quality iron ore is magnetite and hematite.
- India is a major producer of manganese, used in making steel.
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Coal and Petroleum
- Coal is the main source of energy in India; found in Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.
- Most coal belongs to the Gondwana period.
- Petroleum is found in Assam, Gujarat and the Mumbai High offshore field.
Other Important Minerals
- Bauxite - the ore of aluminium, found in Odisha and Jharkhand.
- Mica - India is a leading producer; found in Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
- Copper - found in Rajasthan (Khetri) and Jharkhand.
Quick Revision Points
- Most minerals are in the peninsular plateau.
- Major iron ore states: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka.
- Coal is the chief energy source; mostly Gondwana coal.
- Bauxite is the ore of aluminium.
- India is a leading producer of mica.
- Khetri (Rajasthan) is known for copper.
- Mumbai High is an offshore oil field.