Minerals Resources

21. Which among the following is the largest mechanized mine in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2015]

(a) Ratnagiri mine
(b) Jaipur mine
(c) Sundergarh mine
(d) Bailadila mine

Correct Answer: (d) Bailadila mine

Solution:Bailadila mine of Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh is the largest mechanized mine in India. Bailadila Mine is connected with Vizag Steel Plant of Vishakhapatnam which exports iron ore to Japan

22. Match the following: [M.P.P.C.S.(PRE) 2023]

Place	State
1. Bailadila	A. Odisha
2. Kendujhar	B. Karnataka
3. Balaghat	C. Chhattisgarh
4. Kudremukh	D. Madhya Pradesh

Code:

	1	2	3	4
(a)	A	B	C	D
(b)	C	A	D	B
(c)	C	A	B	D
(d)	A	C	D	B

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:The correct match is following:

Place	State
Bailadila	Chhattisgarh
Kendujhar	Odisha
Balaghat	Madhya Pradesh
Kudremukh	Karnataka

23. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the code given below : [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010]

1. Richest deposits of iron ore are found in Karnataka

2. India is the second largest producer of iron ore in the world.

3. Odisha is the largest producer of iron ore in India

Code:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) All are correct

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3

Solution:According to IMYB Report, 2021. Most abundant reserves of Iron Ore (Magnetite) are found in Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh respectively. In terms of production, Odisha is at the first place. India is the fourth largest (2020, P) producer of iron ore in the world. Therefore it is clear that option (c) is correct.

24. Which of the following is not correctly matched? [R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Gold - Kolard
(b) Coal - Jharia
(c) Iron ore - Guntur
(d) Diamonds - Panna

Correct Answer: (c) Iron ore - Guntur

Solution:Guntur is not famous for Iron Ore. while Kolar, for gold, Jharia is famous for coal and Panna is famous for diamond production.

25. Out of the following types of iron ore, a reserve of which type is largest in India? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) Haematite

Solution:Haematite type of ores has the largest iron ore reserve in India. According to IMYB Report, 2021 the total resources/ Reserves of Haematite in the country is around 24057905 thousands tonnes as of 1 April, 2020. Iron ore is the most important metallic ore. It is known as the backbone of modern civilization. Many industries depend on iron, and hence it is also known as the fundamentals of all industries. Iron Ore is a naturally occurring solid material from which valuable minerals are extracted for commercial use. Iron ores are rocks and minerals that can be economically extracted to produce metallic iron. They are generally rich in iron oxides. They come in various colours such as dark grey, bright yellow, rusty red, deep purple, etc.
Iron Ore Types
Magnetite (FE3O4): This is a high-quality ore with about 70% iron. It's black and magnetic.
Haematite (FE2O3): This reddish ore has 60-70% iron.
Limonite: This yellowish ore contains 40-60% iron.
Siderite: This ore has less than 40% iron and many impurities, making it often not worth mining. Haematite and magnetite are the
most important iron ores in India.
About 79% haematite ore deposits are found in the Eastern Sector (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh).
About 93% magnetite ore deposits occur in the Southern Sector (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu).
Karnataka contributes around 70% of India's magnetite deposits.
Top Iron Ore producing counties: (1) Australia (2) Brazil (3) China (4) India. Top 3 Iron-ore producing states of India: (1) Odisha (2)
Karnataka (3) Chhattisgarh.

26. Which of the following is one of the ore of iron mineral? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Chromite
(b) Malachite
(c) Bauxite
(d) Hematite

Correct Answer: (d) Hematite

Solution:Haematite type of ores has the largest iron ore reserve in India. According to IMYB Report, 2021 the total resources/ Reserves of Haematite in the country is around 24057905 thousands tonnes as of 1 April, 2020. Iron ore is the most important metallic ore. It is known as the backbone of modern civilization. Many industries depend on iron, and hence it is also known as the fundamentals of all industries. Iron Ore is a naturally occurring solid material from which valuable minerals are extracted for commercial use. Iron ores are rocks and minerals that can be economically extracted to produce metallic iron. They are generally rich in iron oxides. They come in various colours such as dark grey, bright yellow, rusty red, deep purple, etc.
Iron Ore Types
Magnetite (FE3O4): This is a high-quality ore with about 70% iron. It's black and magnetic.
Haematite (FE2O3): This reddish ore has 60-70% iron.
Limonite: This yellowish ore contains 40-60% iron.
Siderite: This ore has less than 40% iron and many impurities, making it often not worth mining. Haematite and magnetite are the
most important iron ores in India.
About 79% haematite ore deposits are found in the Eastern Sector (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh).
About 93% magnetite ore deposits occur in the Southern Sector (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu).
Karnataka contributes around 70% of India's magnetite deposits.
Top Iron Ore producing counties: (1) Australia (2) Brazil (3) China (4) India. Top 3 Iron-ore producing states of India: (1) Odisha (2)
Karnataka (3) Chhattisgarh.

27. What is the most famous feature of Chiria located in West Singhbhum? [67% B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2022]

Correct Answer: (a) Iron Ore Mining

Solution:Chiria located in West Singhbhum is famous for Iron Ore Mining. It is home to India's largest iron ore mine, which is operated by the Steel Authority of India. The Chiria mine is located in the Manoharpur Block of West Singhbhum. It has a reserve of 2 billion tonnes of iron ore. The mine is situated at an average elevation of 479 meters (1571 feet).

28. Which of the following statements regarding iron ore in India is not correct? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

(a) Our country has mainly haematite and magnetite reserves of iron ore.
(b) About 80% of the total reserves of iron ore of the country are located in Jharkhand and Odisha.
(c) Bellary is a major mining area of iron ore in Karnataka.
(d) Mayurbhanj district has a significant place in Odisha in terms of iron ore.

Correct Answer: (b) About 80% of the total reserves of iron ore of the country are located in Jharkhand and Odisha.

Solution:According to Indian Mineral Yearbook 2021, among the states, Odisha recorded the highest production of 104.63 million tonnes, Iron Ore i.e. about 51.17% of the country's total production in 2020-21 (P) while Chhattisgarh secured second rank and produced 36.98 million tones, i.e. about 18.09% of the total production of the country followed by Karnataka (16.89%) and Jharkhand (10.48%). Jharkhand and Odisha produced approx. 61.65% of whole production of country jointly.

29. Asia's best zinc and lead reserve are availvable in- [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2007]

(a) Rajpur Dariba of Rajsamand District
(b) Delwara of Udaipur District
(c) Rampur Agucha of Bhilwara District
(d) Jhamar Kodra of Udaipur District

Correct Answer: (c) Rampur Agucha of Bhilwara District

Solution:Rajasthan is the leading zinc and lead producing state of India. According to 2020-21 (P) data, Rajasthan has a near monopoly in zinc and lead production. Asia's best zinc and lead reserves are located in Rampur Agucha region of Bhilwara district. Hindustan Zinc Limited has established a super smelter machine with the help of Britain which is used to melt zinc and lead. Other reserves of zinc and lead in Rajasthan are- Zawar region (Udaipur), Rajpur Debari region (Udaipur), Dungarpur, Alwar, Banswara and Sirohi.

30. Rajasthan has near monopoly in- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

(a) Copper
(b) Mica
(c) Zinc
(d) Dolomite

Correct Answer: (c) Zinc

Solution:According to data of IMYB: 2021, Rajasthan is endowed with the largest reserves/resources of lead- zinc ore amounting to 684.65 million tonnes (89.32%). It is a silvery blue-grey metal with a relatively low melting and boiling point. Both lead & zinc are found to occur together in ore along with other metals like silver and cadmium. It is the fourth most widely used metal across the globe, trailing only steel, aluminium and copper. India has self-sufficiency in respect of zinc. In India, Rajasthan is endowed with the largest reserves/resources of lead - zinc ore, followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.03%), Madhya Pradesh (1.98%), Bihar etc.
Global reservoirs of Zinc: Australia accounts for 27% of world's zinc reserves, followed by China (18%), Russia & Mexico (9% each), Peru(8%), Kazakhstan (5%), USA(4%), etc.