Metals in India

Copper was the first metal used in India.
As far as India is concerned, iron, bauxite, manganese etc. have a large share in the metallic minerals, while copper, gold, silicon, zinc etc. have a small share.
India is generally rich in minerals.
Minerals are referred to as industrial vitamins. These are also referred to as gifts of nature.
Among the metallic minerals, mica and lime are found in abundance.

Iron

India ranks 7th in iron ore production.
Hematite is the most abundant type of iron ore in India.
Iron ores like magnetite and hematite are abundantly available in India.
Hematite contains 68 percent iron. Magnetite contains 50-60 percent iron and limonite contains 30 percent iron.
According to recent information, unmined iron ore is estimated at 13,000 million tonnes.
Among them, quality iron ore is available in Kianjar, Ponai and Mayurpanj districts of Orissa.

Both Bihar and Orissa contribute 75 percent of iron ore production. Hence these two are referred to as “Indian Iron Sheet”.
Iron ore is mined in Durg and Bastar districts in Madhya Pradesh, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Salem (Ganjamalai) and Madurai in Tamil Nadu, Gutremuk (now closed Gutremuk Iron Ore Factory) and Baba Budhan Hills in Karnataka.
The Byladila mine in Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh is being operated with the assistance of Japan.
Iron ore is being exported to Japan from Visakhapatnam.
India’s iron ore has good prospects in the international market because of its quality.

Bauxite is an aluminum mineral.
Metals can be isolated only by electrolysis. Therefore, aluminum smelting industry is possible only in areas with abundant electricity at low cost.
Aluminum smelters are located at Alwai in Kerala and Mettur in Tamil Nadu. Bauxite is a major requirement for the aircraft industry.
Available in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar.
The minerals available here are exported to Japan and other European countries.
Bauxite ore is found in Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.

India is the leading producer of mica.
India has the largest mica reserves in the world.
India produces 90 percent of the world’s mica.
There are three types of mica available in India namely white mica, black mica and amber mica.
Bihar is the leading state in mica production in India.
About 70 percent of mica produced in India is found in Bihar.
Available in Gaya, Hazaribagh and Mungar districts of Bihar.
High quality Bengal ruby mica is available in Bihar.
Most mica is produced in Bihar’s Girith mine and Godharpa mine.
Green mica is found in Atmapur and Kadur mines of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh, Salem and Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Jaipur, Udaipur in Rajasthan and Bastar district in Madhya Pradesh.
India competes with Brazil in mica production.

Since 1871, the Kolar gold field in Karnataka has been a major mine. This is the deepest gold mine in the world.
The Hatti mine and mine in Raichur district of Karnataka are major gold mines.
Gold is also mined in Anathpur and Ramgiri in Andhra Pradesh.
A gold mine is operating in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.
India’s gold reserves are around 66-700 It is noteworthy that the production of gold is decreasing every year.