SURVEY OF IMPORTANT MINERALS

SURVEY OF IMPORTANT MINERALS

The important minerals of the world and their major producers alongwith India's position are surveyed here. METALLIC MINERALS: FERROUS GROUPS
1. IRON ORE One of the most widely distributed elements of the earth's crust, iron rarely occurs in free state. Like several other metals, iron ore deposits are associated mainly with igneous intrusions. Good quality iron ore is found in Russia, Ukraine, China, the USA, etc. Russia has the largest proven reserves of iron ore in the world. In 1999, China emerged as the biggest producer of iron ore in the world, followed by Brazil, Australia, India and Russia. Magnetite, haematite, limonite and siderite are the common types of iron ore.

A. Magnetite Magnetite with nearly 70 per cent iron content is the finest iron ore. Magnetite ore deposits are in igneous or metamorphic rocks. The banded type is considered to be the most important due to extensive occurrence, easy amenability to benefication by crushing and magnetic separation and agglomeration. Its colour ranges from dark brown to black.

Occurrence in the World It occurs in Sweden, Russia and Liberia.
Occurrence in India In India, magnetite deposits occur in Dharwar and Cuddapah systems of rock in the peninsula, in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Major deposits of magnetite reserves in these states are as follows:
Kamataka Kudremukh, Hariyur, Kunigal, Siddarhali, Shankarguddu, Ubrani, etc., in the Archi, Gangamula and Gangrikal hill ranges.

Andra Pradesh Chityal, Daturabad, Kalleda, Rabanpalli, Singreni, Gopalpur, Utla, etc.

Tamil Nadu Chettari, Belukkurrichi, Namagiri, Panchalais, Sittinglinge, Kanjamalai, Tirthamalai, and Mahadev hills in the Salem district. Kelur, Malnad and Devala and Nilgiri district.

Kerala mostly in the Kozhikode district and in Cherupa,
Eliyettimala, Nauminda, Naduvallur and Allampara.

B. Haemetite Haemetite iron ore contains about 65 per cent iron. It is hard, bumpy, compact and reddish in colour.
Occurrence in the World It occurs in sedimentary rocks in crystalline or powdery forms. The Lake Superior areas in USA, Qebec in Canada, Brazil, Russia, Liberia, China and Spain have the ore.

Occurrence in IndiaHaemetite ores contribute to more than three-fourths of India's total production of iron ores. They are found in the Cuddapah and Dharwar systems. 9f the peninsular Deccan. They mostly occur as laminated hematite, micaceous haematite, hematite breecia and haematite quartz schist.

Important haemetite reserves in India are as follows:

Jharkhand and Orissa Gurumahisani-Badampahar belt and Barajamada group which include Barbil, Gua, Bonai, Joda, Kiriburu, Suleipat, Gorumahisani, Noamundi, Barajamda, etc. Barajamada group, which covers part of Singhbhum district in Jharkhand and, contains the largest ore reserves in the country.

Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh Bailadilla Raughat and Aridongri group in Bastar district; Dalli-Rajhara group in the Durg:district; and the deposits in Jabalpur district.

Maharashtra Lohara, Pipalgaon, Asola and Surajgarh (in Chandraprabha district)

Kamataka Chikmaglur, Sandur, Bellary, Hospet, Shimoga and Chitradurga districts

Goa Bicholim-Sirigao deposits, Gudnem-Dignem-Surle deposits, Velgnem-Pale deposits and Arwalem deposits.

Andhra Pradesh Anantpur, Khamman, Krishna, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Nellore districts where the main producing centres are Jaggayapeta, Ramallakota, Veldurti, Nayudupetta and Bayyaram.

C. Limonite (Bog Iron) Limonite Ore is a brown ore occurring in sedimentary formations. Its iron content is less than 50 per cent and it has many impurities.

Occurrence in the World Limonite are occurs in
Alabama, USA.
Occurrence in India Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and
Himachal Pradesh possess major reserves of limonite.

Uttaranchal Garhwal

Uttar Pradesh Mirzapur district

Himachal Pradesh Kangra Valley

D. Siderite Siderite is a carbonate of iron and is found
near coal fields. It is also a residual ore and has an iron content of 20 to 30 per cent. Sideritic deposits are of the Jurassic age and are found in England (Lincolnshire), France and Luxembourg. In India, sideritic ores, like limonitic ores, are found in Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Reserves and Production of Iron Ores in India India occupies a very high position in the world in terms of reserves of iron are. The total in situ reserves of iron are in the country are about 1,23,17,275 thousand tonnes of haematite and 53,95,214 thousand tonnes of magnetite. Besides these, small quantities of ilmenite and limonite ores are also found. The resources of very high grade are are limited and are restricted in Bailadila sector of Chhattisgarh and to a lesser extent in Bellary-Hospet area of Kamataka and Barajamda sector in Jharkhand and Orissa. Indian are has low sulphur content which never goes above 0.6 per cent.