Ferrous minerals
Topic: Mineral Resources of India: Distribution and Conservation · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 5 "Minerals and Energy Resources"; Class 12, Ch 5 "Mineral and Energy Resources"
Meaning
Ferrous minerals are metallic minerals that contain iron or are used to make iron and steel. They include iron ore, manganese, chromite, nickel and cobalt. They make up about three-fourths of the value of India's metallic mineral output. India has good reserves of iron ore and manganese, which gives a strong base for metallurgical industries (industries that make metals). India exports these minerals once its own needs are met.
Example
The Chhotanagpur plateau of Jharkhand and the Odisha plateau have both iron ore and manganese close to coking coal. Because of this, steel plants grew at Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Rourkela.
Don't confuse with
- Non-ferrous minerals: these have no iron (copper, bauxite, lead, zinc, tin), and India has few of them apart from bauxite.
Related concepts
- Mineral
- Ore
- Classification of minerals
- Characteristics of minerals
- Non-ferrous minerals
- Non-metallic minerals