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| Geological Resources |
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| Large number of industries is established in the course of development of human society - based on vast geological resources. Most geological resources are the basis of industrial development and improvement of human life styles. |
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| Entire mankind depends on geological sources so acutely that it is just not possible to imagine and foresee what kind of society would have existed without geological resources. The utensils we use daily, the equipments used regularly, the machineries, the aircraft, transport vehicles, the whole structure of factory, bridges, buildings - all are dependent on one or more natural resource extracted from earth's crust. |
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| Geological resources include all types of resources extracted from earth's crust. |
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| They are: |
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| Natural Gas |
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| It is mixture of methane, butane, pentane sometimes octane gas coming out of deeper layers of earth's crust by natural forces. Though it is a natural gas, it does not come out of crust on its own. A process of rigging the crust is needed to bring the large quantity of gas to the surface for commercial exploitation. |
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| Crude Oil |
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| Hydrocarbon based natural oil trapped in deeper layers of earth's crust is useful to produce many refined petroleum products such as high speed diesel, petrol. Petrol and diesel are commonly burnt in automotive vehicles to generate power for movement. |
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| Conservation of fossil fuel |
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| Growing consumption and non renewablity fossil fuel necessitate the conservation of this natural resource of to help in this effort many measures have been advocated. |
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| 1) Use of oil should be minimized so as to save it for future use. Public transport should be used as far possible. |
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| 2) More efficient engines to developed to reduce wastage. |
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| 3) Engines to be kept in good working order. |
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| 4) Search for new oil reserves should continue. |
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| 5) Alternative sources of energy such as solar energy, wind power tidal energy to be encouraged. |
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| 6) Use of biogas should be encouraged |
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| 7) Population growth should be controlled to check increased in energy requirement. |
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| 8) Avoid wastage of energy |
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| Public should be educated about the need and methods of saving energy. |
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| Mineral Ores |
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| The earth's crust contains several mineral ores such as haematite, pyrite, bauxite, dolomite, etc. The ores can be used refined into various metals like iron, copper, aluminium, zinc, manganese, etc. The earth's crust also contains many non - metallic ores such as gypsum, dolomite that are useful to manufacture cement, refractories, etc. |
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| Rocks |
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| During the formation of earth, many rocks were solidified in and above the surface of earth. The soil seen in the outer crust of the earth is a product of weathering of rocks. Rocks are used by man in many ways in construction, recreation, sculpture, etc. |
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| Mountains and Valleys |
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| Earths surface is made up of large number of mountains and valleys. They were naturally made during the cooling of earth's surface during earth's formation. Mountains and valleys are responsible for river systems as well as many other climatic features including rainfall and its pattern. They form an important feature of natural resource. |
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| India has 329 million hectares of geographical area (1 hectare = 10,000 m2). Out of this, 41 million hectares is barren land not available for cultivation. It includes all area not occupied by agricultural activities, grazing land and forests. Geographical resources, except oil are explored in these areas. Oil is explored in deeper layers of earth's crust in sea or in any interior land. Geological survey of India and Oil and Natural Gas Commission are two bodies responsible for exploratory work in the fields of underground mineral ores and oil / gas sources respectively. Our county has vast mineral resources. Out of them coal and iron ore are rich mineral sources of our country. Other resources include chromite, copper, gold lead, zinc, lignite, bauxite, gypsum, dolomite, etc are also found in substantial quantities in our country. |
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| Coal and iron are most important rich mineral sources of our country. |
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| Coal |
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| India ranks third in world after China and USA in respect of coal production. Total known geological reserves of all types of coal in India are estimated to be 209 billion tons as in 1999. The major coal reserves are spread in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. |
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| Iron Ore |
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| The total recoverable iron ore in the country are about 10,052 million tons of haematite and 3400 million tons of magnetite. They are mainly distributed in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Orissa. Minor resources are, of course, distributed in Orissa, Bihar, Goa, Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajastan and Tamilnadu. |
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| Chromite |
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| Total recoverable chromite are resources are estimated at 90 million tons as at year 2000, out of total geological resource of 184 million tons. Largest source of chromite ores are found in (96%) Cuttack district of Orissa. Minor but economically significant reserves of chromite are found in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh. |
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| Copper |
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| Total recoverable reserves of copper ore in India are 538 million tons at the end of 2000 - which is equivalent to 5.3 million tons of metal. However total geological copper sources are about 721 million tons. Major deposits of copper ore are found in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajastan in specific patches. Minor ore reserves are found in Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and West Bengal. |
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| Gold |
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| Three important gold fields are identified in the country Kolar Gold Fields and Hutti Gold Mines (both in Karnataka) and Ramagiri Gold Fields (in Andhra Pradesh) are the important gold reserves of our country. It is estimated that 178 lakh tons of ores held as reserves in these mines can yield 68 tons of gold. |
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| Lead and Zinc |
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| Lead and zinc are mainly located in Rajastan, Gujarat, Maharastra, West Bengal, Orisaa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Total recoverable reserves of lead and zinc ores are 177 million tons, which can yield 23.80 lakh tons of lead and 9.7 million tons of zinc. |
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| Lignite |
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| Reserves of brown coal - are mainly found in lignite basins of Tamil Nadu. They are available in small quantities in Rajastan and Gujarat. Total lignite reserves of India are estimated to be 30 billion tons. |
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| Bauxite |
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| Total recoverable bauxite reserves in our country are estimated at 2460 million tons, out of which 88% of them are of metallurgical grade. Principal states - where bauxite is distributed are Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra and Bihar. |
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| Gypsum |
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| The recoverable gypsum deposits in India are 238 million tons. Gypsum is useful to manufacture cement, plaster of Paris, paint, fertilizer. Gypsum reserves are mainly found in Rajastan, Jammu Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharastra and Karnataka. |
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| Lime Stone |
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| Total recoverable reserves of limestone of all categories and grades are 75 billion tons mainly spread in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajastan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra, Orissa, Bihar and Uttaranchal. |
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| Dolomite |
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| The reserves of dolomite used for refractories are to the tune of 4390 million tons distributed in Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Orissa, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Maharastra. |
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| Diamond |
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| Diamond deposits occur in three types of geological modules such as Kimberlite pipes, conglomerate beds and alluvial gravels. The main diamond bearing area in India are Penna belt of Madhya Pradesh and parts of Andhra Pradesh. We have reserves of 28 lakhs carats diamond. |
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| Natural Mineral Oil |
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| Recent discoveries of oil and gas - both off shore and on shore - in eastern coast, western coast, river belts of Cauvery, Godavari, Mahanadi as well as traditional oil wells of north eastern states have been of great utility to national economy. India has been found to have great reserves of natural gas and many gas based industries are established. The production of petroleum products rose from a meager 0.2 million tons during 1950 - 51 to 32 million tons during 1999 - 2000 while gas production was to the tune of 27 million cubic metres. |
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