Minerals: Overview and Distribution
India is rich in minerals but poor in some critical ones (petroleum, natural gas, copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, rare earths). The Geological Survey of India (GSI) explores; the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) regulates; the MMDR Act 1957 (as amended in 2015, 2021, 2023) governs mining; the Ministry of Mines is the nodal ministry. Mines in the country are often found in the old crystalline rocks of the peninsula and are scarce in the alluvium of the Northern Plains.
Classification
- Metallic: ferrous (iron, manganese, chromite) and non-ferrous (bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, gold).
- Non-metallic: mica, limestone, gypsum, salt.
- Energy minerals: coal, lignite, oil, gas, uranium.
- Major and minor (minor includes building stones, sand).
Mineral belts of India
| Belt | Minerals |
|---|---|
| North-eastern plateau belt (Chotanagpur plateau, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, parts of West Bengal) | Coal, iron ore, mica, bauxite, copper, manganese, chromite, uranium; the richest belt |
| South-western belt (Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala) | Iron ore, manganese, bauxite, limestone, gold; lacks coal |
| North-western belt (Rajasthan and Gujarat) | Copper, zinc, lead, mica, salt, gypsum, uranium; little coal |
| Central belt (Chhattisgarh, MP, Maharashtra) | Coal, manganese, bauxite, limestone |
| Offshore | Mumbai High oil, KG basin gas |
| Himalayan belt | Limestone, dolomite, copper and others in small amounts |
Mineral classification table
| Mineral | Rock type or origin | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Iron ore | Metamorphic rock | Steel |
| Bauxite | Laterite weathering | Aluminium |
| Mica | Igneous and metamorphic | Electrical, electronic |
| Limestone | Sedimentary | Cement, steel flux |
| Coal | Sedimentary, organic | Power, steel |
Policies
- National Mineral Policy 2019; MMDR Amendment Act 2023: critical and strategic minerals auctions.
- District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds local development.
- National Critical Mineral Mission (2025): critical mineral security.
- Mining Lease and Prospecting; Auction system since 2015.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from NCERT, standard geography textbooks, the Census of India 2011, the India State of Forest Report, IMD, Ministry of Agriculture and other official sources. Maps are schematic teaching maps, not Survey of India maps, and zone boundaries are approximate. Figures such as production, capacity, counts of parks and ports, and census status change, so check the latest official source before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.