Geography · Ch 13 — Mineral and Energy Resources
Distribution of Minerals in India
Distribution of Minerals in India
Most of India’s metallic minerals are found in the peninsular plateau region, where old crystalline rocks dominate. This is not accidental — these ancient rocks have been subjected to intense heat and pressure over millions of years, creating conditions favourable for the formation and concentration of metallic ores.
Over 97 per cent of India’s coal reserves lie in the river valleys of the Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi, and Godavari. These valleys contain thick sedimentary sequences that preserved plant matter over geological time, turning it into coal.
Petroleum reserves are located in the sedimentary basins of Assam and Gujarat, and in the offshore region of Mumbai High in the Arabian Sea. New reserves have also been discovered in the Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins, extending India’s oil potential.
A striking pattern: most major mineral resources occur to the east of an imaginary line connecting Mangaluru (in Karnataka) and Kanpur (in Uttar Pradesh). This means the eastern and central parts of the country are far richer in minerals than the western and northern regions.
Minerals in India are generally concentrated in three broad belts, though sporadic occurrences exist in isolated pockets.
The North-Eastern Plateau Region
This belt covers the Chhotanagpur plateau (Jharkhand), the Odisha plateau, West Bengal, and parts of Chhattisgarh. It is the most diversified mineral belt in India. The variety of minerals found here — iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite, and mica — is the reason why major iron and steel industries are located in this region. Having both iron ore and coal in close proximity drastically reduces transport costs for steel plants.
The South-Western Plateau Region
This belt extends over Karnataka, Goa, the contiguous uplands of Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is rich in ferrous metals and bauxite, and contains high-grade iron ore, manganese, and limestone. However, it lacks coal deposits, except for the lignite deposits at Neyveli in Tamil Nadu. Compared to the north-eastern belt, this region does not have as diversified a mineral base. Kerala has deposits of monazite and thorium (important for nuclear energy) and bauxite clay. Goa is known for its iron ore deposits.