- Minerals in India are classified into metallic and non-metallic minerals based on their chemical and physical properties.
- Metallic minerals contain metals and are of two types—ferrous (with iron, e.g. iron ore, manganese) and non-ferrous (without iron, e.g. copper, bauxite).
- Non-metallic minerals do not contain metals and may be organic (coal, petroleum) or inorganic (limestone, mica, graphite).
- Minerals are unevenly distributed and exhaustible; good-quality minerals are scarce and take millions of years to form, so conservation is necessary.
- Minerals are vital for economic development, as they support industries, technology and agriculture; India is rich in minerals like iron ore, coal, mica, manganese, bauxite and limestone.
Key Points
Key Points: Types of Minerals in India
Key Points: Distribution of Minerals in India
- Coal → Jharia (Jharkhand) – largest coalfield in India.
- Iron ore → Singhbhum (Jharkhand).
- Oil (onshore) → Digboi (Assam) – oldest oilfield in India.
- Oil (offshore) → Mumbai High (Arabian Sea) – largest domestic oil source.
- Map marking rule → Minerals are shown by small dots on maps.
