India is endowed with a rich variety of mineral | Class 12 Geography Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
India is endowed with a rich variety of mineral – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of India is endowed with a rich variety of mineral from Class 12 Geography, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Distribution of Minerals in India
Most metallic minerals in India occur in the peninsular plateau region, particularly in old crystalline rocks. Over 97% of coal reserves are found in the valleys of Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi, and Godavari rivers. Petroleum reserves are mainly located in sedimentary basins of Assam, Gujarat, and the offshore Mumbai High region in the Arabian Sea, with new reserves in the Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins. Major mineral resources are generally found east of a line joining Mangaluru and Kanpur. Mineral deposits are concentrated in three broad belts: the North-Eastern Plateau Region (covering Chhotanagpur, Odisha Plateau, West Bengal, and parts of Chhattisgarh), the South-Western Plateau Region (covering Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu uplands, and Kerala), and the North-Western Region (along the Aravali range in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat). The Himalayan belt also contains minerals such as copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, and tungsten. Assam valley has mineral oil deposits, and offshore oil is found near Mumbai coast.
📊 Diagram: Maps and images illustrate the mineral belts and their spatial distribution across India.
🧪 Activity: Find out the specific regions where iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite, and mica are extracted in the North-Eastern Plateau Region.
🔗 Connection: Leads to detailed study of ferrous minerals.
Frequently asked questions
1. Choose the right answers of the following from the given options. (i) In which one of the following States are the major oil fields located? (a) Assam (b) Bihar (c) Rajasthan (d) Tamil Nadu (ii) At which one of the following places was the first atomic power station started? (a) Kalpakkam (b) Narora (c) Rana Pratap Sagar (d) Tarapur (iii) Which one of the following is non-renewable source of energy? (a) Hydel (b) Solar (c) Thermal (d) Wind power
(i) The major oil fields in India are located in Assam. Assam is known for its oil fields like Digboi, Naharkatiya, and Moran.
(ii) The first atomic power station in India was started at Tarapur in Maharashtra in 1969.
(iii) Thermal energy is a non-renewable source of energy as it primarily depends on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas which are finite resources.
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Give an account of the distribution of mica in India. (ii) What is nuclear power? Mention the important nuclear power stations in India. (iii) Name non-ferrous metal. Discuss their spatial distribution. (iv) What are non-conventional sources of energy?
(i) Mica is mainly found in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Jharkhand and Bihar are the leading producers.
(ii) Nuclear power is the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion reactions. Important nuclear power stations in India include Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), and Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu).
(iii) Non-ferrous metals include copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, and tin. Copper is mainly
3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words. (i) Write a detailed note on the Petroleum resources of India. (ii) Write an essay on hydel power in India.
(i) Petroleum resources in India are found mainly in Assam, Gujarat, Mumbai High off the coast of Maharashtra, and the Krishna-Godavari basin. Assam was the first region where oil was discovered in India. Mumbai High is the largest offshore oil field. Petroleum is a crucial energy resource for India’s economy, used for transportation, industry, and domestic purposes. Exploration and production have increased with technological advancements, but India still imports a significant portion of its pe
What is the definition of a mineral according to the chapter on Mineral and Energy Resources?
A mineral is a natural substance of organic or inorganic origin with definite chemical and physical properties.
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Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.
- computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database | Class 12 Geography Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.