Mineral Resources

Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?

[amp_mcq option1=”Aluminium” option2=”Copper” option3=”Iron” option4=”Titanium” correct=”option4″]

Ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and Rutile (TiO₂) are the most economically important minerals used for the production of Titanium metal and Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment. These minerals are found abundantly in heavy mineral sands, particularly along the coastal tracts of states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha in India.

– Ilmenite and Rutile are beach sand minerals.
– They are the primary source ores for the element Titanium.
– India possesses significant reserves of these minerals along its coasts.

Titanium is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and high melting point, making it valuable in aerospace, medical implants, chemicals, and other industries. Titanium dioxide is widely used as a white pigment in paints, plastics, and paper.

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

• 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
• 2. Monazite contains thorium.
• 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire coastal sands in India.
• 4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3 only” option2=”1, 2 and 4 only” option3=”3 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option2″]

Statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.

Monazite is a phosphate mineral containing rare earth elements (REEs) and thorium. It is found in placer deposits, particularly in coastal sands. In India, due to its thorium content, which is a prescribed substance under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, the mining, processing, and export of monazite are strictly controlled and primarily handled by government entities like IREL (India) Limited.

Statement 3 is incorrect because monazite sands, while found along coasts, are not uniformly distributed across the *entire* coastal sands of India. They are concentrated in specific areas, notably the beaches of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

Consider the following minerals :

1. Bentonite
2. Chromite
3. Kyanite
4. Sillimanite

In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”4 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”2, 3 and 4 only” correct=”option4″]

The correct option is D, as Chromite, Kyanite, and Sillimanite are officially designated as major minerals in India, while Bentonite is typically classified as a minor mineral.

Minerals in India are classified as ‘major’ or ‘minor’ under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. This classification impacts their regulation, such as rules for mining leases and royalty rates. The list of major and minor minerals changes based on government notifications.

As per the classification under the MMDR Act, as amended and notified periodically:
1. Bentonite: Generally classified as a Minor Mineral.
2. Chromite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
3. Kyanite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
4. Sillimanite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
Therefore, only Chromite, Kyanite, and Sillimanite among the given options are major minerals.

Consider the following statements :

• In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.
• Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.
• Rajasthan has iron ore mines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option4″]

The correct answer is D) 3 only.

– Statement 1 is incorrect. Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), as amended, State Governments have the power to grant mineral concessions (Prospecting License and Mining Lease) for most non-coal major minerals. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, made the auction of mineral concessions for specified minerals mandatory, and the auction process is conducted by the State Governments.
– Statement 2 is incorrect. Andhra Pradesh does have gold deposits and has historically mined gold (e.g., the Kolar Gold Fields extended into AP, and there are deposits like Ramagiri). Jharkhand also has known occurrences of gold, including historical small-scale mining. Therefore, claiming they “do not have gold mines” is false.
– Statement 3 is correct. Rajasthan is one of the significant iron ore producing states in India, with deposits found in districts such as Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, and Sikar.

The MMDR Act, 1957 is the principal legislation governing the mining sector in India. The Central Government has the power to regulate minerals, but the administration of minor minerals is entirely delegated to the State Governments, while major minerals (excluding coal, petroleum, etc.) are jointly regulated, with states being the grantors of concessions under the central law.

In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found?

• 1. Cambay Basin
• 2. Cauvery Basin
• 3. Krishna-Godavari Basin

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”3 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

India has significant potential for shale gas resources in several basins. The major prospective basins identified in India are Cambay Basin (Gujarat), Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin (Andhra Pradesh), Cauvery Basin (Tamil Nadu), Assam-Arakan Basin (North-East), and Gondwana Basins (various states). The options list Cambay Basin, Cauvery Basin, and Krishna-Godavari Basin, all of which are known regions with shale gas potential.

Shale gas is natural gas trapped within shale rock formations. Exploration and extraction require hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

India is currently in the exploration phase for shale gas, and commercial production has not yet started on a large scale. State-owned companies like ONGC and RIL have been involved in exploratory activities in these basins.

Consider the following statements:

• Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
• Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
• Dharwars are famous for petroleum.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”None” correct=”option2″]

The correct answer is B) 2 only. Only statement 2 is correct.

Statement 1 is incorrect; natural gas in India is primarily found in sedimentary basins associated with tertiary rock formations and offshore areas, not significantly in the older Gondwana beds, which are known for coal. Statement 2 is correct; Kodarma in Jharkhand is historically a major mica mining region and is known for abundant mica deposits. Statement 3 is incorrect; Dharwar system rocks are very old metamorphic and sedimentary formations rich in metallic minerals like iron ore, manganese, gold, etc., not petroleum, which is found in younger sedimentary basins.

Gondwana beds represent a major geological formation containing about 98% of India’s coal reserves. Petroleum and natural gas resources are concentrated in regions like the Assam Shelf, Bombay High, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Cauvery Basin, etc. The Dharwar system is part of the Indian Shield and contains some of India’s most important mineral deposits.

Which of the following is/are the characteristic/characteristics of Indian coal?

• High ash content
• Low sulphur content
• Low ash fusion temperature

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is A) 1 and 2 only. Statements 1 and 2 accurately describe characteristics of Indian coal, while statement 3 is incorrect.

Indian coal is known for its high ash content and relatively low sulphur content compared to coal found in many other parts of the world. The ash fusion temperature of Indian coal is generally high, which can lead to operational issues like slagging in boilers if not properly managed.

High ash content reduces the energy output per unit weight and increases transportation costs and environmental challenges related to ash disposal. Low sulphur content is an advantage from an environmental perspective as it results in lower sulphur dioxide emissions. The high ash fusion temperature means that the ash melts at a higher temperature, but if furnace temperatures exceed this point, it can form slag, which sticks to boiler tubes.