Distribution of Major Minerals in India

The concentration of minerals in ores, extraction ease, and proximity to markets influence economic viability. The minerals are distributed in India as:

1. Coal: Found predominantly in eastern India, particularly in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal. The Damodar Valley region is known for its high-quality coal reserves.
2. Iron Ore: Abundant in states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. The Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in Odisha are significant iron ore producing regions.
3. Bauxite: Mainly found in states like Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. The Panchpatmali mines in Odisha are one of the largest bauxite reserves in India.
4. Manganese: Concentrated in states like Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The Nagpur-Bhandara belt in Maharashtra is known for its manganese deposits.
5. Copper: Found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Karnataka. The Khetri mines in Rajasthan are notable for their copper reserves.
6. Limestone: Widely distributed across various states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. The Chittorgarh district in Rajasthan is known for its limestone reserves.
7. Petroleum: Major petroleum reserves are located in sedimentary basins of western India, particularly in Gujarat, Assam, and the offshore areas of Mumbai High. The Bombay High offshore oil field is one of the largest contributors to India’s petroleum production.
8. Natural Gas: Found along with petroleum reserves in sedimentary basins, with significant deposits in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam.
9. Gold: Gold deposits are found in Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan. The Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka were one of the largest gold mining centers in India.
10. Diamonds: Diamond mines are primarily located in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The Panna region in Madhya Pradesh is famous for its diamond reserves.

Minerals occur in various modes depending on geological processes. They can be found as deposits within rocks, such as veins or layers. Some minerals form through precipitation from solutions, like evaporite deposits in salt lakes. Others are found in alluvial deposits, transported by water and deposited in riverbeds or deltas. Minerals can also occur as nodules or concretions within sedimentary rocks. India’s mineral distribution varies, with peninsular rocks containing coal and metallic minerals, while sedimentary rocks in Gujarat and Assam contain petroleum deposits.

In this article, we will look into the mode of occurrence of minerals and the factors that influence their distribution. It is an important concept of Class 10 Geography. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on “Mode of Occurrence of Minerals”.