Minerals and Mining in India: Iron Ore, Coal, Bauxite, Mica, Oil and Their States for SSC CGL, CHSL
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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PDF Notes: Minerals and Mining in India: Iron Ore, Coal, Bauxite, Mica, Oil and Their States for SSC CGL, CHSL
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India has a rich store of minerals, mainly in the old rocks of the Peninsular Plateau. SSC General Awareness asks: "Which state is the top producer of iron ore?", "Where is the Jharia coalfield?" or "Which is the oldest oil field of India?" These minerals and mining in India notes for SSC list the minerals with their states and mines in tables.
Classification of Minerals
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Metallic: Ferrous | Iron ore, manganese, chromite |
| Metallic: Non-ferrous | Copper, bauxite, lead, zinc, gold |
| Non-metallic | Mica, limestone, gypsum, salt |
| Energy (fuel) minerals | Coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium |
Important Minerals, States and Mines
| Mineral | Leading states and mines |
|---|---|
| Iron ore | Odisha (Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh), Jharkhand (Singhbhum), Chhattisgarh (Bailadila), Karnataka (Bellary) |
| Coal | Jharkhand (Jharia, Bokaro), Odisha (Talcher), Chhattisgarh (Korba), West Bengal (Raniganj), Madhya Pradesh (Singrauli) |
| Bauxite | Odisha (Koraput), Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra |
| Manganese | Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka |
| Copper | Rajasthan (Khetri), Madhya Pradesh (Malanjkhand), Jharkhand (Ghatsila) |
| Mica | Jharkhand (Koderma), Bihar, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh |
| Gold | Karnataka (Hutti; Kolar mines are closed) |
| Lead and zinc | Rajasthan (Zawar) |
| Diamond | Madhya Pradesh (Panna) |
| Uranium | Jharkhand (Jaduguda) |
| Thorium | Kerala (monazite sands) |
| Salt | Gujarat, Rajasthan (Sambhar), Tamil Nadu |
| Limestone | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat |
Petroleum and Natural Gas
| Oil field or basin | State |
|---|---|
| Digboi (the oldest oil field, 1889) | Assam |
| Mumbai High (offshore, the largest oil field) | Maharashtra coast |
| Ankleshwar, Cambay | Gujarat |
| Krishna-Godavari basin (natural gas) | Andhra Pradesh coast |
Types of Coal
| Type | Carbon content | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Anthracite | More than 90% | Best quality; very little in India (Jammu and Kashmir) |
| Bituminous | 70 to 90% | Most used for industry and for making coke; most Indian coal is of the Gondwana age |
| Lignite | Around 30 to 50% | Brown coal; Neyveli in Tamil Nadu |
| Peat | Less than 50% | The first stage of coal formation |
Important Facts
- The Chota Nagpur Plateau is called the storehouse of minerals of India.
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) regulates mining in India, and the Ministry of Mines looks after this sector.
- Coal India Limited is the largest coal producing company; it is headquartered in Kolkata.
- Odisha is the leading state in iron ore, bauxite and chromite.
Quick Tips
- Learn the mineral with the state and the mine in pairs.
- Remember Jharkhand as the state with coal, iron ore, mica and uranium.
- Learn the types of coal in the order of carbon content.
- Remember Digboi (oldest) and Mumbai High (largest) for oil.
Quick Revision Points
- The Chota Nagpur Plateau is the storehouse of minerals.
- Odisha leads in iron ore and bauxite.
- Jharia and Bokaro are coalfields of Jharkhand.
- Digboi in Assam is the oldest oil field.
- Neyveli in Tamil Nadu has lignite.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Which state is the leading producer of iron ore?
Answer: Odisha - Where is the Jharia coalfield?
Answer: Jharkhand - Which is the oldest oil field of India?
Answer: Digboi (Assam) - Where is the Khetri copper mine?
Answer: Rajasthan - Which is the leading state for mica?
Answer: Jharkhand (Koderma) - Where is the uranium mine of Jaduguda?
Answer: Jharkhand - Which mineral is mined at Panna?
Answer: Diamond (Madhya Pradesh) - Where is lignite mined in India?
Answer: Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) - Which type of coal has the highest carbon content?
Answer: Anthracite - Which plateau is the storehouse of minerals of India?
Answer: Chota Nagpur Plateau
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Indian Geography notes page, read the previous topic Agriculture in India and the next topic Transport in India. Also read the Indian Geography mind map and Soils of India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the leading state in iron ore?
Odisha.
Where is the Jharia coalfield?
In Jharkhand.
Which is the oldest oil field in India?
Digboi in Assam.
What is Mumbai High?
It is the largest offshore oil field of India, off the Maharashtra coast.
Where is copper mined in Rajasthan?
At Khetri.
Where is bauxite mined in Odisha?
At Koraput.
What are the types of coal?
Anthracite, bituminous, lignite and peat.
Which coal is used for making coke?
Bituminous coal.
Where is gold mined in India?
Hutti in Karnataka is the main gold mine today.
Which is the largest coal company in India?
Coal India Limited.
Is this topic asked in SSC exams?
Yes. Minerals and mining states are asked in SSC General Awareness.
How can I remember the minerals?
Learn the mineral with its state and mine in a table, and mark them on a map.
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Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.