Minerals In India

Introduction 

Minerals are naturally occurring earth materials. They are found on the earth and cannot be created by any human activity. These were present at the time of earth’s formation and can be found today in all rocks, soil, water and air. These have characteristic chemical composition and physical properties, and usually exist in the ground in their solid phase. Minerals in India is a database of minerals information that contains data of 5000 different minerals in its database. Minerals can be used as fuels or as raw materials for manufacturing where they are commonly called stones. These are naturally occurring chemical elements.

Minerals in India

Minerals

• A mineral is a natural product with a crystal structure that may be represented by a chemical formula and is usually solid and inorganic. More than two thousand minerals have been identified and most of these are inorganic, which are formed by the various combinations of elements. However, a small proportion of the earth’s crust contains organic materials, consisting of single elements such as gold, silver, diamond, and sulphur
• According to geologists, a mineral is a “naturally occurring substance with a clear internal structure.” Some of the major minerals in India come in a range of shapes and sizes in nature, ranging from the most intricate diamond to the softest talc

• Consequently, a particular mineral can have a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre, and density. Scientists use these features to identify minerals

Types of Mineral Resources

Mineral resources can be divided into two major categories.

• Metallic Mineral Resources
• Non-metallic Mineral Resources
  

  Metallic	Non-Metallic
  Metallic minerals are minerals that contain metal elements in their natural state.	No metals included in Non-metallic minerals.
  When metallic minerals are melted, a new product is produced.	In the case of non-metallic minerals, such a procedure yields no new product.
  In igneous and metamorphic rock formations, metallic minerals are most commonly encountered.	Non-metallic minerals are commonly found in sedimentary rocks and young fold mountains.
  Metallic minerals are excellent conductors of both electricity and heat.	Non-metallic minerals are excellent electrical and thermal insulators.
  Metallic minerals are extremely malleable and ductile.	Non-metallic minerals are brittle and easily break down due to their lack of malleability and ductility.
  Metallic minerals have a shine to them.	Non-metallic minerals have no gloss or sparkle.

  • Some of the major minerals in India are mainly found in “ores,” and they occur in many forms. Minerals can be found in metamorphic and igneous rocks in cracks/ fissures, faults, and joints. The more minor occurrences are veins, while the larger ones are lodes

  • They are created in most situations when liquid and gaseous minerals are driven skyward towards the earth’s surface. They cool and solidify as they rise. Metals such as zinc, tin, lead, and copper can be found in veins and lodes. In Rajasthan, there’s a Khetri copper belt, the Malanjkhand copper belt in MP, and the Singhbhum copper belt are the biggest copper mines in India
  • Different minerals in India can be found in sedimentary rocks in beds or layers. The creation of horizontal strata was caused by deposition, accumulation, and concentration
  • Due to the extended exposure to high heat and pressure, coal and other types of iron ore have been concentrated. Sedimentary minerals arise as a result of evaporation, especially in arid environments

  Distribution of Minerals in India:

  There is a disparity in the distribution of energy resources and different types of minerals in India. This is because mineral resources are linked to specific types of geological formations. Most of these mineral-bearing states are found in India’s peninsular plateau zone.

  Let’s discuss the location of minerals in India’s peninsular plateau region:                                           

  1 The North-Eastern Plateau:

  This area encompasses the zones of Odisha Plateau, Chotanagpur (Jharkhand), West Bengal, and other Chhattisgarh parts. Coal, Manganese, Iron, and mica are some commonly found minerals in the region. There are nearly 9 coal mines in Jharkhand.

  2.The South-Western Plateau Region:

  This belt runs through Karnataka, Goa, and the uplands of Tamil Nadu and       Kerala. In the belt, Bauxite and ferrous metals are in abundance. There was also high-grade iron ore, manganese, and limestone in the mix. Except for Neyveli lignite, this region is rich in coal reserves.

  The mineral reserves in this region are not as diverse as those in the North-Eastern belt. Monazite and thorium deposits and bauxite clay can be found in several parts of Kerala. Major Iron Ore Belts in India can be found in the Goa region.

  3.The North-Western Region:

  Minerals are linked to the Dharwar system of rocks, which runs along the Aravalli in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. Copper and zinc have always been essential minerals in this area.

  Building stones such as granite, sandstone, and marble are abundant in Rajasthan. There are also significant gypsum and fuller earth reserves. Dolomite and limestone are essential raw materials in the cement industry. Gujarat is well-known for its oil and gas reserves. Both Gujarat and Rajasthan have abundant salt reserves.

  4. South Eastern region

  Eastern Karnataka: Bellary and Hospet are notable for their iron riches in this region.

  Andhra Pradesh: The mining centres of Cuddapah and Kurnool are important. Mica deposits can be found at Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.

  Telangana: Telangana is well-known for its bauxite riches.

  Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu possesses India’s largest lignite coal deposits.

  5. Central belt:

  The Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra region, which is an extension of the Chhota Nagpur plateau, is included in this region.

  Chhattisgarh has vast iron and limestone reserves, as well as the Godavari-Wardha basin, which has vast coal potential.

  The problem faced by the iron ore mining industry in India

  India’s iron ore mining industry has numerous challenges, including the following:

  Ø a lack of proper mechanisation

  Ø Infrastructure

  Ø monetary resources

  Ø Human Resources (HR)

  Ø Concerns about the environment

  Ø Orientation towards export

  Ø Policy on Trade

  Ø Global Economic Stagnation

  Ø Many of these are only found in a few states.

  Miscellaneous Belts:

  • Beyond the mineral belts above, the upper Brahmaputra valley is a central petroleum-producing region
  • Copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, and tungsten are known to occur in the Himalayan region, which is another mineral belt. They can be found in both the eastern and western areas of the country

  Conclusion

  There is a lot of room for increased mining capacity in iron ore, bauxite, and coal, as well as a lot of room for future sub-surface deposit finds. Steel, zinc, and aluminium manufacturers continue to benefit from infrastructure initiatives. The real estate industry relies heavily on iron and steel. Given the excellent development prospects for the residential and commercial construction industries, demand for these metals is expected to continue. The mineral wealth of our country has been a source of great national pride since ancient times. Indian mineral resources have given us many varieties of gemstones for jewellery, industries and ornamental use which are not only unique in their characteristics but also in their abundance, variety and availability in different parts of the country.