📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Metallic Minerals
| Mineral | Leading states | Key mines / facts |
|---|---|---|
| Iron ore (haematite, magnetite) | Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand | Bailadila (CG), Kudremukh (Karnataka), Keonjhar-Mayurbhanj (Odisha), Noamundi (Jharkhand); haematite most used, magnetite finest (≈ 70% Fe) |
| Manganese | Odisha, MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka | Balaghat (MP), Nagpur-Bhandara; used in steel |
| Bauxite (aluminium ore) | Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand, CG | Panchpatmali (Koraput) — NALCO; Amarkantak, Mainpat |
| Copper | Rajasthan, MP, Jharkhand | Khetri (Rajasthan), Malanjkhand (MP, largest open-cast), Singhbhum (Jharkhand) |
| Gold | Karnataka | Hutti (active), Kolar (closed, 2001) |
| Zinc-lead | Rajasthan | Zawar, Rampura-Agucha (Hindustan Zinc) |
| Uranium | Jharkhand, AP | Jaduguda (Jharkhand), Tummalapalle (AP) |
| Thorium (monazite sand) | Kerala, TN, Odisha coasts | India has large thorium reserves |
📌 2. Non-metallic Minerals
- Mica — electrical insulator; Jharkhand (Koderma), AP (Nellore), Rajasthan.
- Limestone — cement, steel; Rajasthan, MP, AP. Gypsum — Rajasthan (≈ 80%+). Diamond — Panna (MP). Marble — Makrana (Rajasthan).
- Chota Nagpur Plateau — "mineral heartland / Ruhr of India".
📌 3. Coal, Petroleum & Gas
- Coal grades (by carbon %): anthracite (best, 80–95%) > bituminous (most used) > lignite (brown coal — Neyveli, TN) > peat.
- ≈ 98% of India's coal is Gondwana (Damodar, Mahanadi, Godavari valleys); rest Tertiary (NE). Reserves led by Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh. Jharia — coking coal; Raniganj (WB) — first mine (1774).
- Petroleum: first oil well Digboi (Assam, 1889) — oldest working refinery (1901); Mumbai High (1974, offshore) — largest producing field; Ankleshwar (Gujarat); Barmer (Rajasthan — Mangala). Largest refinery — Jamnagar (Reliance).
- Natural gas: KG basin, Mumbai High; HVJ (Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur) pipeline.
📌 4. Nuclear & Renewable Energy
| Plant / project | State | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Tarapur (1969) | Maharashtra | India's first nuclear power station |
| Kudankulam | Tamil Nadu | Largest nuclear plant (with Russia) |
| Rawatbhata, Kakrapar, Kaiga, Narora, Kalpakkam | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, UP, TN | Kalpakkam — fast breeder reactor |
| Bhadla Solar Park | Rajasthan (Jodhpur) | Among the world's largest solar parks |
| Muppandal wind farm | Tamil Nadu | TN/Gujarat lead in wind power |
| Manikaran | HP | Geothermal; also Puga valley (Ladakh) |
- India's largest power source — thermal (coal). Target: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030; net zero by 2070. International Solar Alliance HQ — Gurugram.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- The best coal is anthracite, but India mostly has bituminous.
- Digboi = oldest oilfield; Mumbai High = largest producer.
- Khetri = copper, Zawar = zinc, Hutti = gold, Jaduguda = uranium, Panna = diamond.
- First nuclear plant Tarapur; largest Kudankulam.
📌 5. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The finest quality iron ore is — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Magnetite has ≈ 70% iron; haematite is most used.
Magnetite has ≈ 70% iron; haematite is most used.
Q2. The Bailadila iron ore mines are in — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Dantewada (Bastar), Chhattisgarh.
Dantewada (Bastar), Chhattisgarh.
Q3. Khetri is famous for — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Khetri (Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan) has copper mines.
Khetri (Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan) has copper mines.
Q4. Hutti, India's main active gold mine, is in — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Hutti (Raichur, Karnataka); Kolar closed in 2001.
Hutti (Raichur, Karnataka); Kolar closed in 2001.
Q5. Jaduguda is known for — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Jaduguda (Jharkhand) — UCIL uranium mine.
Jaduguda (Jharkhand) — UCIL uranium mine.
Q6. India's main diamond mine is at — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Panna (MP) — Majhgawan mine (NMDC).
Panna (MP) — Majhgawan mine (NMDC).
Q7. Bauxite is the ore of — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Bauxite → alumina → aluminium.
Bauxite → alumina → aluminium.
Q8. Which mineral is used in electrical industry as an insulator? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Mica (Koderma, Jharkhand) is an excellent insulator.
Mica (Koderma, Jharkhand) is an excellent insulator.
Q9. The highest-grade coal with most carbon is — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Anthracite has 80–95% carbon.
Anthracite has 80–95% carbon.
Q10. Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) is famous for — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Neyveli is the main lignite (brown coal) centre.
Neyveli is the main lignite (brown coal) centre.
Q11. Most of India's coal belongs to the — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
≈ 98% is Gondwana coal in the Damodar, Mahanadi, Godavari valleys.
≈ 98% is Gondwana coal in the Damodar, Mahanadi, Godavari valleys.
Q12. India's first oil well was drilled at — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Digboi (Assam) in 1889; refinery in 1901.
Digboi (Assam) in 1889; refinery in 1901.
Q13. India's largest oil-producing field is — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Offshore field in the Arabian Sea (1974).
Offshore field in the Arabian Sea (1974).
Q14. India's first nuclear power station is — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Tarapur (Maharashtra) began in 1969.
Tarapur (Maharashtra) began in 1969.
Q15. The Zawar zinc-lead mines are in — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Zawar (Udaipur, Rajasthan).
Zawar (Udaipur, Rajasthan).
Q16. Malanjkhand copper project is in — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Balaghat (MP) — India's largest open-cast copper mine.
Balaghat (MP) — India's largest open-cast copper mine.
Q17. India's largest source of electricity generation is — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Coal-based thermal power has the largest share.
Coal-based thermal power has the largest share.
Q18. Bhadla Solar Park is in — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Jodhpur district, Rajasthan.
Jodhpur district, Rajasthan.
Q19. Monazite sands of Kerala are a source of — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Monazite contains thorium; basis of India's three-stage nuclear plan.
Monazite contains thorium; basis of India's three-stage nuclear plan.
Q20. The International Solar Alliance HQ is at — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
ISA (2015, India-France initiative) is headquartered at Gurugram.
ISA (2015, India-France initiative) is headquartered at Gurugram.