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Mineral is a naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness
Minerals are valuable natural Resources that are finite and non-renewable. The history of mineral extraction in India dates back to the days of the Harappan civilization. The wide availability of minerals in the form of abundant rich reserves and the ecogeological conditions make it very conducive for the Growth and development of the mining sector in India. India is particularly rich in the Metallic Minerals of the ferrous group such as iron ores, manganese, chromite and titanium. It has the world’s largest reserves in mica and bauxite.
Minerals are a valuable natural resource being the vital raw material for Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE, Capital Goods and basic industries. As a major resource for development the extraction and management of minerals has to be integrated into the overall strategy of the country’s Economic Development. The exploitation of minerals has to be guided by longterm national goals and perspectives. Just as these goals and perspectives are dynamic and responsive to the changing global economic scenario so also the national mineral policy has to be dynamic taking into consideration the changing needs of Industry in the context of the domestic and global economic Environment.
Minerals are broadly divided into two groups metallic and non metallic minerals. Metallic minerals are further subdivided into ferrous and non ferrous minerals.
Metallic minerals are minerals which contain one or more metallic Elements.Metallic minerals occur in rare, naturally formed concentrations known as mineral deposits. These deposits can consist of a variety of metallic minerals containing valuable metals such as nickel (pentlandite), copper (chalcopyrite), zinc (sphalerite), lead (galena) and gold (occurs as a native element or as a minor constituent within other minerals) that are used in all aspects of our daily lives.Metallic minerals must be broken apart and chemically processed to extract the useful Metal from the mineral.
Ferrous minerals account for about three-fourth of the total value of the production of metallic minerals. They constitute the most important mineral group after fuel minerals. They include iron, manganese, chromite, pyrite etc. These minerals provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries, particularly iron, steel and alloys.
Iron Ore
The two main types of ore found in our country are haematite and magnetite. It has great demand in international market due to its superior quality. The iron ore mines occur in close proximity to the coal fields in the north-eastern plateau region of the country which adds to their advantage. Major iron ore deposits in India, distributed in five zones designated as Zone – I to Zone-V, have been identified in the country on commercial ground.
Most of iron ore found in the country is of three types:- Haematite, magnetite and limonite.
Haematite ore contains up to 68 percent of iron. It is red in color and is often refered to as ‘red ore*. Next to haematite in quanitity and richness is the magnetite ore. It contains up to 60 percent of the iron. It is dark brown to blackish in colour, and is often referred as ‘black ores’, Limonite is the third type of ore which has iron content of 35-50 percent.
- Zone-I group of iron ore deposits occur on the Bonai Iron Ore Ranges of Jharkhand and Orissa States and in the adjoining areas in Eastern India,
- Zone-II group comprises iron ore in Karnataka , Maharashtra , Orissa , Manipur Tamil Nadu , Geology and Mineral Resources of India ore deposits in the 225-km.-long north-south-trending linear belt in central India comprising the States of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra (East).
- Zone – III deposits occur in Bellary-Hospet regions of Karnataka while the
- Zone – IV deposits cover the rich magnetitic deposits of Bababudan-Kudremukh area of the same State in south India.
- Zone – V deposits cover iron ore deposits of Goa. In addition, in south India, magnetite-rich banded magnetite quartzites occur in parts of Andhra Pradesh near the East Coast while in Tamil Nadu good deposits of magnetite occur in Salem district and in neighbouring areas.
Copper
Copper is malleable, ductile and a good conductor, copper and thus is mainly used in electrical cables, electronics and chemical industries.
The Balaghat mines in Madhya Pradesh, Khetri mines in Rajasthan and Singhbhum district of Jharkhand are leading producers of copper.Largest resources of copper ore to a tune of 809 million tonnes (53.54%) are in the state of Rajasthan followed by Madhya Pradesh with 287.67 million tonnes (19%) and Jharkhand with 295.96 million tonnes (19.59%). Copper resources in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal accounted for remaining 7.87% of the total all India resources.
Bauxite
Bauxite is a non-ferrous metallic mineral. It is the ore from which aluminium metal is produced. Aluminium extracted from the ore is used in making aeroplanes, electrical appliances and goods, household fittings, utensils etc. Bauxite is also used for manufacturing of white colour cement and certain chemicals. India’s reserves of bauxite of all grades have been estimated at 3037 million tonnes.
The deposits in AP and Orissa (Eastern Ghats) with a total reserve of about 1650 Mt constitute one of the largest bauxite deposits in the world. Orissa continues to be the leading state accounting for 59% of the total production of the country. is also rich in deposits. It occurs in the high hilltops of the Chhotanagpur plateau as residual deposits. Bauxite occurs as segregated sheets, pockets, patches and lenses within laterite cappings over the traps and gneisses. Extensive deposits of bauxite are found in the western Chhotanagpur plateau area falling in and districts and adjoining district.
Manganese
Manganese is an important raw material for smelting of iron ore and also used for manufacturing ferro alloys. Karnataka has the largest recoverable reserves (64.55 million tones) of manganese ore in the country. Managanese ore minerals occur in close association with haematite and carbonates as stratiform, lenticular, patchy or pockety deposits of varying dimensions, within various greenstone belts. Andhra Pradesh contributes about 90% of the manganese ore production in the country. The manganese ore here is mainly associated with kodurites of the Khondalite Group in Eastern Ghats and Penganga beds in the Pakhal Basin. Orissa accounts for one third of the country’s annual production of manganese and possesses the second largest recoverable manganese reserve in the country i.e. 50.36 million tonnes of all grades, next to that of Karnataka. Manganese ores are mined in Singhbhum district in between Noamundi and Gua and from south of Chaibasa.,
Ion ore is a type of ore that contains metal ions. These ions can be extracted from the ore and used to make metals, such as copper, aluminum, and manganese.
Copper is a reddish-brown metal that is used in a variety of products, including electrical wiring, plumbing, and coins. Copper is also used to make alloys, such as bronze and brass.
Bauxite is a type of ore that contains aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide is the main ingredient in aluminum metal. Aluminum is a lightweight metal that is used in a variety of products, including cars, airplanes, and cans.
Manganese is a gray-black metal that is used in a variety of products, including batteries, steel, and fertilizer. Manganese is also used to make alloys, such as manganese steel.
Ion ore is found in a variety of locations around the world. Copper is found in Chile, Peru, and the United States. Bauxite is found in Australia, China, and Brazil. Manganese is found in South Africa, Gabon, and China.
The mining of ion ore can have a significant impact on the environment. The mining process can release dust and other pollutants into the air. The mining process can also damage water supplies and Ecosystems.
The processing of ion ore can also have a significant impact on the environment. The processing process can release pollutants into the air and water. The processing process can also generate waste that must be disposed of properly.
The use of ion ore can also have a significant impact on the environment. The use of copper can lead to the release of copper into the environment. The use of aluminum can lead to the release of aluminum into the environment. The use of manganese can lead to the release of manganese into the environment.
It is important to manage the mining, processing, and use of ion ore in a way that minimizes the environmental impact. This can be done by using best practices in mining, processing, and waste disposal. It is also important to recycle ion ore to reduce the need for mining.
Copper, bauxite, and manganese are all essential metals that are used in a variety of products. The mining, processing, and use of these metals can have a significant impact on the environment. It is important to manage these activities in a way that minimizes the environmental impact.
Metallic minerals are minerals that are used to make metals. They are found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The most common metallic minerals are iron ore, copper, bauxite, and manganese.
Iron ore is a mineral that is used to make iron. It is the most common metallic mineral in the world. Iron ore is found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The largest producers of iron ore are China, Australia, Brazil, and India.
Copper is a metal that is used to make wires, pipes, and other products. It is found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The largest producers of copper are Chile, Peru, China, and the United States.
Bauxite is a mineral that is used to make aluminum. It is found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The largest producers of bauxite are Australia, China, Brazil, and Guinea.
Manganese is a metal that is used to make steel. It is found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The largest producers of manganese are South Africa, China, Australia, and Brazil.
Metallic minerals are essential for modern life. They are used to make everything from cars and buildings to computers and cell phones. The distribution of metallic minerals is uneven, with some countries having more than others. This can lead to conflict and competition for resources. The utility of metallic minerals is high, as they are essential for many modern technologies. However, the extraction and processing of metallic minerals can have a negative environmental impact.
Frequently asked questions
What are metallic minerals?
Metallic minerals are minerals that are used to make metals. They are found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The most common metallic minerals are iron ore, copper, bauxite, and manganese.Where are metallic minerals found?
Metallic minerals are found in rocks and minerals all over the world. The largest producers of iron ore are China, Australia, Brazil, and India. The largest producers of copper are Chile, Peru, China, and the United States. The largest producers of bauxite are Australia, China, Brazil, and Guinea. The largest producers of manganese are South Africa, China, Australia, and Brazil.What are the uses of metallic minerals?
Metallic minerals are used to make a wide variety of products, including cars, buildings, computers, cell phones, and steel.What are the environmental impacts of mining metallic minerals?
Mining metallic minerals can have a negative environmental impact, including deforestation, Water Pollution, and Air Pollution.What are the alternatives to mining metallic minerals?
There are a number of alternatives to mining metallic minerals, including recycling, using recycled materials, and using alternative materials.
Question 1
Which of the following is a metallic mineral?
(A) Iron ore
(B) Coal
(C) Oil
(D) Natural gas
Answer
(A) Iron ore is a metallic mineral. It is a rock ore that contains iron. Iron ore is used to make iron and steel.
Question 2
Which of the following is not a metallic mineral?
(A) Copper
(B) Bauxite
(C) Manganese
(D) Coal
Answer
(D) Coal is not a metallic mineral. It is a fossil fuel. Coal is used to generate electricity and to make steel.
Question 3
Where is most of the world’s copper produced?
(A) China
(B) Chile
(C) Peru
(D) Australia
Answer
(A) China produces the most copper in the world. In 2020, China produced 1.06 million metric tons of copper.
Question 4
Where is most of the world’s bauxite produced?
(A) Australia
(B) China
(C) Brazil
(D) Guinea
Answer
(A) Australia produces the most bauxite in the world. In 2020, Australia produced 34.5 million metric tons of bauxite.
Question 5
Where is most of the world’s manganese produced?
(A) South Africa
(B) Australia
(C) Brazil
(D) China
Answer
(A) South Africa produces the most manganese in the world. In 2020, South Africa produced 6.8 million metric tons of manganese.
Question 6
What are some of the uses of copper?
(A) Electrical wiring
(B) Plumbing
(C) Coins
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D) Copper is used in electrical wiring, plumbing, coins, and many other applications. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat, and it is also resistant to corrosion.
Question 7
What are some of the uses of bauxite?
(A) Aluminum production
(B) Cement production
(C) Steel production
(D) None of the above
Answer
(A) Bauxite is the main ore of aluminum. Aluminum is used in a wide variety of products, including cans, foil, and aircraft.
Question 8
What are some of the uses of manganese?
(A) Steel production
(B) Fertilizer production
(C) Batteries
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D) Manganese is a key alloying element in steel. It is also used in fertilizer production, batteries, and other applications. It is a strong reducing agent and is used in the production of many chemicals.
Question 9
What are some of the environmental impacts of mining?
(A) Water pollution
(B) Air pollution
(C) Land degradation
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D) Mining can have a significant impact on the environment. Water pollution can occur from the runoff of mine tailings or from the use of chemicals in mining. Air pollution can occur from the burning of fossil fuels in mining operations or from the release of dust from mining activities. Land degradation can occur from the removal of topsoil or from the subsidence of land due to mining activities.
Question 10
What are some of the ways to mitigate the environmental impacts of mining?
(A) Use of best management practices
(B) Reclamation of mined land
(C) Environmental impact assessment
(D) All of the above
Answer
(D) The environmental impacts of mining can be mitigated by using best management practices, by reclaiming mined land, and by conducting environmental impact assessments. Best management practices are techniques that can be used to reduce the environmental impacts of mining. Reclaiming mined land involves restoring the land to its original condition or to a condition that is suitable for other uses. Environmental impact assessments are studies that are conducted to identify and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project.