Test: India - Mineral Belts - UPSC MCQ

The majority of metallic minerals in India are found in the old crystalline rocks on the peninsular plateau, which is the North-Western Region. This region, which includes Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, is rich in minerals like copper and zinc. It also has abundant building materials such as sandstone, granite, and marble.

The South-Western Plateau Region, which includes Karnataka, Goa, and parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, is known for its high-grade iron ore and manganese deposits. It also has other minerals like bauxite, limestone, and ferrous metals.

The major coal reserves in India are found in the Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi, and Godavari valleys. These valleys, located in different parts of the country, contribute to over 97 percent of the coal reserves in India.

The Himalayan Belt, although deficient in metallic minerals in general, has valuable pockets of minerals such as copper, lead, zinc, precious stones, gold, silver, gypsum, limestone, and dolomite. These minerals are found in specific areas within the Himalayas.

The Central Belt, which includes states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra, is the second-largest mineral belt in India. It contains minerals like bauxite, manganese, limestone, marble, uranium, coal, gems, and mica.

The petroleum reserves in India are found in the Assam, Gujarat, and Mumbai High sedimentary basins. Assam and Gujarat are located onshore, while Mumbai High is an offshore basin in the Arabian Sea.

The Indian Ocean Belt, which includes the continental shelf of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, has abundant mineral oil and natural gas reserves. It also contains high-grade nodules of minerals like manganese, phosphate, aluminum, iron, and garnet.

Minerals are valuable natural resources in India because they are limited and non-renewable. Once these mineral resources are depleted, they cannot be replaced. Therefore, their scarcity makes them significant for various industries and economic development.

The text mentions that mineral extraction has a long history in India, dating back to the Harappan civilization. This ancient civilization, which thrived around 2600 to 1900 BCE, had access to abundant mineral resources within its territory.

The abundance of minerals in the form of rich reserves made the mining sector in India conducive to growth and development. The presence of vast mineral resources within the country has played a significant role in supporting various industries and economic activities.