NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.: Indian Geography Minerals

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Mineral Resources

The Geological Survey of India is working since 1851 and has taken considerable interest in locating and harnessing mineral resources.

The Indian Bureau of mines is at Nagpur.

Statewise Production of Minerals in India

  • MP/Chhattisgarh
  • Jharkhand
  • Gujarat
  • Maharashtra
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Orissa
  • Assam
  • Rajasthan
  • UP/Uttaranchal
  • W. Bengal
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala

India is deficient in the following minerals: Silver, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Tin, Mercury, Gold, Tungsten, Platinum, Graphite, Asphalt, Potash, Sulphur, Cadmium, Bismuth, Molybdenum and Petroleum.

Mineral Belts in India

  • Chota Nagpur Belt
  • Midland Belt (Chhattisgarh, MP, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra)
  • Southern Belt (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu)
  • Western Belt (Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra) South Western Belt (Karnataka, Goa and Kerala) Himalayan Belt (valuable minerals in pockets and vaults of ‘stratic faults’ )
  • The Indian Ocean (manganese nodules, phosphorite nodules, and barium sulphate concretions) . Phosphorite nodules are mainly found near the Andaman Is. The Arabian Sea is richer in phosphate than the Bay of Bengal.
  • The new mineral policy came in 1993. Under the new policy the need was felt to liberalize the mineral sector and open it for the private investors to promote better mineral development.