MINERALS IN INDIA

Ch-8

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Contents

Coal

Petroleum

Natural gas

Oil Refineries

Iron ore

Manganese

Bauxite

Limestone

COAL

Significance

Occurrence / Types

Distribution:
Gondwana Coalfields
Tertiary Coalfields

What are the Drawbacks of Coal found in India?

Why is the location of a coal-field an important factor in industrial development?
Why is lignite a lower grade coal?
[ICSE 12-13]

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SIGNIFICANCE

Coal is the basic source of power for heavy industries.

It can be converted to gas, oil, electricity and thermal power.

It is the raw material for chemicals, dyes, paints, synthetics, etc.

Its by-products naphtha, phenol tar, benzol, ammonia gas and sulphur are immensely
useful.

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OCCURRENCE
It is found in the sedimentary rock stratas of the river valleys. Decomposed vegetative matter
under heat and pressure after millions of years changes to coal.
Types:

Anthracite more than 90% carbon content

Bituminous 75-80% carbon content

Lignite less than 50% carbon content, it is a lower grade brown coal

Peat very poor quality

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DISTRIBUTION
India is the largest producer of coal in South Asia. Coal fields in India are divided into 2
groups:

Gondwana

Tertiary

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GONDWANA

WB Ranigunj (first coal field of India opened in 1774)

Jharkhand Jharia, Bokaro, Giridh

Andhra Pradesh Singareni, Kothagudem, Kantaplli

Chhattisgarh Tatapani, Korba, Rampur

Maharashtra Umrer, Kamptee, Wardha

MP Pench valley, Singrauli, Shahdol

Orissa Talcher, Sambalpur

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TERTIARY

JK Riasi

Assam Lakhimpur

Arunachal Pradesh Namchik

Nagaland Borjan, Tiensang

Meghalaya W. Darrangari, Balphak

Rajasthan Pallu

TN Neyveli, Jayamkoda, Mannargudi

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PETROLEUM

Significance

Occurrence / Types

Distribution

Name the two main belts of India where oil is found.

[ICSE 12-13]

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SIGNIFICANCE

In India, most of the crude oil is imported from the Gulf nations and Malaysia. Hence
many refineries have coastal location.

Petroleum is used for generation of power and is used widely in locomotives, trains,
planes, etc.

The by-products of petroleum kerosene, vaselene, tar, soap, etc. are of immense use.

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OCCURRENCE
Petroleum occurs in association with natural gas and water. It lies in the sedimentary rock
formations like sandstone, limestone or shale. It is believed that petroleum has been derived
from plant and animal life buried millions of years ago.

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DISTRIBUTION

Oil at Mumbai High is taken out with the help of the Sagar Samrat drilling platform.

India is a major producer of petroleum in South Asia and the largest producer among SAARC
nations. Coal fields in India are lie mainly in Assam and Gujarat:

Assam Digboi, Sibsagar, Moran

Gujarat Ankleshwar, Kalol, Dholka

The biggest strike outside Assam and Gujarat was made in 1974 by the ONGC at Mumbai
High, on the continental shelf. Other oilfields in India include Rajasthan, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Cambay coast, etc. Other offshore oil fields include Bassein and Aliabet
island.

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NATURAL GAS

Significance

Distribution

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SIGNIFICANCE

LNG is also known as the fuel for the future as it is cheaper.

It has certain advantages over other fuels:

It is cheaper
It is eco-friendly

Gas is used in fertilizers, sponge-iron plants, LNG, CNG.

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DISTRIBUTION

Gas Authority of India (GAIL) handles the post exploration activities like transportation,
processing, distribution and marketing.

Some of the natural gas producing regions are South Bassein, Mumbai High, Kutch offshore,
etc.

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OIL REFINERIES
Crude oil derived from earth is sent to refineries for refining. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC),
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
(BPCL), etc. are engaged in refining of petroleum. The refineries are located close to the
coast. Among the 17 big refineries, Mangalore refinery is in the joint sector and Reliance
Petroleum in Jamnagar is in the private sector. Public refineries under the public sector
include:
Mathura, Barauli and Haldia under IOCL.
The two at Mumbai are under HPCL and BPCL.

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IRON ORE

Significance

Occurrence / Types

Distribution

How is low grade iron ore utilized?

[ICSE 12-13]

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SIGNIFICANCE

Goas ores are chiefly shipped to Japan.

Iron ore is useful in the production of iron and steel and their multifaceted
products.

Steel is a basic material for heavy industries.

All machineries are made of steel and iron.

It is used in the transport system, railway rolling stock, in construction dams and
bridges.

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OCCURRENCE

Iron ores found in India are mostly hematite and magnetite.

Types:
Hematite contains 68 percent iron
Siderite poor quality
Limonite poorest grade of iron
Magnetite [Not Given in Syllabus]

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DISTRIBUTION

Kudremukh in Chikmagalur has magnetite deposits which are also meant for export.

India is the 6 th largest producer of iron ore with 6% of global output:

Orissa Keonjarh, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh
Jharkhand Noamundi, Gua of Singbhum district
Chhattisgarh Baildila in Bastar district, Dhalli and Rajhara in Durg district
Goa Bicholim, Sanquelim, Netarlim
Karnataka Kemangundi, Shimoga, Hospet
Andhra Pradesh Anantapur, Khammam, Nellore
TN Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai
Maharashtra Satara, Bhandara, Pipalgaon

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MANGANESE

Significance

Distribution

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SIGNIFICANCE

Indian manganese is in great demand because of its quality. Japan is a major importer
of Indias manganese. Other importers are the USA, UK, Germany, France, Norway,
Belgium.

Manganese is used in the smelting of iron ore and to convert it to rust-proof steel.

Manufacture of Ferro alloys.

In chemical, electrical, glass and bleaching powder industries.

In dry cell batteries.

In enzymes and blood pressure machines.

Helps in the growth of plants as it reduces nitrates.

Manufacture of insecticides.

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DISTRIBUTION

Orissa is the leading producer of manganese in India:

Orissa Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Bolangir.
Karnataka Shimoga, Chitradurg, Bellary. (2nd largest producer)
Maharashtra Nagpur, Bhandara, Ratnagiri (famous for high grade ore).
MP Chhindwara, Balaghat

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BAUXITE

Significance

Distribution

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SIGNIFICANCE

Bauxite is the raw material for aluminum. It is actually a rock consisting of

aluminum oxides.

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DISTRIBUTION

India is a major producer of bauxite in South Asia:

Orissa Bolangir, Sundargarh, Sambalpur
Jharkhand Ranchi , Palamau
MP Mandla, Balaghat
Chhattisgarh Maikala range in Bilaspur, Durg and Raigarh
Maharashtra Ratnagiri, Satara, Pune

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LIMESTONE

Significance

Distribution

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SIGNIFICANCE

Limestone is associated with rocks of calcium carbonate or magnesium or a

mixture of both.

It is used in many industries chemicals, iron and steel, fertilizer, paper, soda
ash, etc.

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DISTRIBUTION

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat are the main producers of limestone. Large
reserves are found in Chhattisgarh:
Chhattisgarh Raigarh, Raipur, Bilaspur
MP Satna, Betul, Jabalpur
Rajasthan Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Ajmer

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Name the two main belts of India where oil is found.

i) The Assam-Arakan belt
ii) The Gujarat-Cambay belt
Why is the location of a coal-field an important factor in industrial development?
Coal is a bulky commodity with a low specific value and transportation over long distances
involves high costs.
How is low grade iron ore utilized?
i) Blended with high grade ores or sponge iron
ii) Made into billets (used for train lines)
What are the Drawbacks of Coal found in India?
i) The coal seams are too thin to allow modern machinery to work on them.
ii) Obsolete methods of mining in most of the coal mines reduces the total input.
Why is lignite a lower grade coal?
i) It has more moisture
ii) It is less combustible.

ICSE 2012-13

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