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Difficulty: MediumMineral and Energy Resources of India

With reference to the distribution of mineral resources in India, consider the following statements:

1. Gondwana coal fields account for over 95% of India's total coal reserves and are primarily concentrated in river valleys such as Damodar, Mahanadi, and Son.
2. The Bailadila mining range in Chhattisgarh is world-renowned for its vast deposits of high-grade magnetite iron ore.
3. Panchpatmali in the Koraput district of Odisha is a major deposit of bauxite in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1 and 2 only
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Gondwana coal fields constitute nearly 98% of India's coal reserves along major river valleys (Damodar, Mahanadi, Son, Godavari). Panchpatmali in Koraput district, Odisha, hosts the country's most prominent bauxite deposit. Statement 2 is false because Bailadila is known for high-grade hematite iron ore, whereas magnetite is majorly found in Kudremukh (Karnataka) and parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1
Statement 1 is true.
Gondwana coal belongs to the Upper Paleozoic to Mesozoic era and accounts for about 98% of total reserves and 99% of production in India, situated in peninsular river basins (Damodar, Mahanadi, Son, Godavari).
2
Analyze Statement 2
Statement 2 is false.
The Bailadila range in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh contains massive deposits of high-grade hematite (not magnetite) iron ore.
3
Analyze Statement 3
Statement 3 is true.
Odisha is the largest producer of bauxite in India, with major deposits located in Panchpatmali (Koraput district) and Kalahandi-Bolangir belts.

Key Concept

Geological distribution of coal, iron ore, and bauxite resources across major mineral belts in India.
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Topics

Mineral and Energy Resources of India

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