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Minerals in India

India has a large number of economically useful minerals and they constitute one-quarter of the
world's known mineral resources. On the basis of chemical and physical properties, minerals may
be grouped under two main categories of metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals.
Metallic minerals are the sources of metals. Iron ore, copper ore, gold ore produce metals and are
included in this category. Non-metallic minerals are either organic in origin such as- fossil fuels
also known as mineral fuels which are derived from buried animals and plant life such as- mica,
coal and petroleum.

Iron Ore

Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can

be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron

oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep

purple, to rusty red. India is endowed with fairly abundant

resources of iron ore. It has the largest reserve of iron ore in

Asia. The two main types of ores found in our country are

hematite 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. The Iron Ore

entire reserves of iron ore are located in the States of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka,

Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. In Odisha, iron ore occurs in a series of hill

ranges in Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj and Jhar. The important mines are Gurumahisani, Sulaipet,

Badampahar (Mayurbhaj), Kiruburu (Kendujhar) and Bonai (Sundergarh).

Manganese

Manganese is an important raw material for smelting of

iron ore and also used for manufacturing ferro alloys.

Manganese deposits are found in almost all geological

formations, however, it is mainly associated with Dharwar

system. Odisha is a leading producer of Manganese.

Major mines in Odisha are located in the central part of

the iron ore belt of India, particularly in Bonai, Kendujhar,

Sundergarh, Gangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi and Bolangir. Manganese
Karnataka is another major producer and here the mines

are located in Dharwar, Bellary, Belgaum, North Canara, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Chitradurg and

Tumkur. Maharashtra is also an important producer of manganese which is mined in Nagpur,

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