CHROMITE ORE

CHROMITE ORE Chromite is the on Iv ore mineral of chromium and is an important alloying eiement in the manufacture of steel. Chromite is an oxide of iron and chromium with a theoretical composition of 32 per cent and 68 per cent. Alumina, iron oxide, magnesium oxide, lime and silica may reduce content.

Uses of Chromium Chromite is used in
(a) metallurgical industries in the production of various
non-ferrous alloys of chromium and also in the form of ferrochrome for manufacturiQg chrome steel;

(b) refractory industries due to its high resistance against corrosion, high temperature changes and its chemi­cally neutral character;

(c) chemical industries for the manufacture of chro­mium compounds like chromates and bichromates, chromic acid, etc.

Distribution in the World The world's leading pro­ducer of chromite is South Africa. Zimbabwe, Russia and Kazakhstan are other major producers.
Distribution in India In India the chromite deposits occur as the following Precambrian formations of penin­sular India.

(a) Deposits associated with the Dharwar metamorphic rocks in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

(b) Deposits associated with the metamorphic rocks of iron ore in Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa.

(c) Fracture lineament emplacements in gneissic terrain
in Tamil Nadu.
(d) Younger deposits of the Himalayan-Arakan belt.
(e) Deposits of Andhra and those at Bembat' and Tashgaon (Ladakh), near Moreah (Manipur), near Kokapur and Vartha in Sabarkanta district (Gujarat) and at
Chakargaon (Andamans).

Major deposits of chromite in India are as follows:

Karnataka NuggchaIli belt which includes Byrapur, Chikonhalli, Pensamudra, Bhaktarahalli in Hassan district; and Kadkola, Talur, Gorur, Dodkanya in Mysore district.

Maharashtra Kankauli and Vagda areas in Ratnagiri district

Orissa Sukinda ultrabasic belt of Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar districts. (The state is considered to have the largest chromite deposit in the country.)

Jharkhand Hills of Rorburu, Kiriburu, Kittaburu and Chittangburu in Singhbhum distrJct

Tamil Nadu Sittampudi in Salem district

4. NICKEL The main are is pentlaudite', a complex mixture of nickel, iron and sulphur, Nickel is also often found in association with copper. It is used for plating purposes as it does not rust. It is also less magnetic than iron, so it can be used in metal parts located near com­passes. Canada produces the largest amount of the world's nickel. Russia and Australia have large resources.