The correct answer is: a) Gold
Gold is a naturally occurring, metallic chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is a dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal with a bright yellow color. It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions. Gold often occurs in free elemental (native) form, as nuggets or grains, in rocks, in veins, and in alluvial deposits. It occurs in a solid solution series with the native element silver (as electrum) and also naturally alloyed with copper and palladium. Less commonly, it occurs in minerals as gold compounds, such as calaverite, chrysocolle, and chrysocolla.
Gold is resistant to most acids, but it is soluble in aqua regia, a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. Gold is also soluble in a solution of sodium cyanide. Gold is a precious metal and has been used for jewelry and other decorative purposes since ancient times. It is also used in coinage, dentistry, and electronics.
The Shivalik Hills are a mountain range in the Indian subcontinent. They are located in the northern states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The Shivalik Hills are a sub-range of the Himalayas and are part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The Shivalik Hills are a popular tourist destination and are known for their scenic beauty.
The neighboring Himalayan regions are also rich in gold deposits. The most famous gold mine in the Himalayas is the Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka, India. The Kolar Gold Fields are the second largest gold mine in the world and have been in operation since 1880.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Manganese is a chemical element with the symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a metal that is a member of the transition metals and is the ninth-most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Manganese is a silvery-white metal that is hard and brittle. It is used in a variety of alloys, including steel, and is also used in batteries and other electrochemical devices.
- Phosphate is a mineral that is found in rocks and soil. It is a major component of fertilizer and is also used in the production of detergents and other chemicals.
- Gypsum is a mineral that is used in the production of plaster, drywall, and other building materials. It is also used in agriculture and in the production of paper.