Non-metallic minerals
Topic: Mineral Resources of India: Distribution and Conservation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 5 "Mineral and Energy Resources"
Meaning
Non-metallic minerals are minerals that yield no metal when processed. There are two kinds. Organic ones are the mineral fuels, coal and petroleum, which formed from buried plants and animals. Inorganic ones include mica, limestone, graphite and gypsum. Mica is the most important non-metallic mineral in India. It insulates well and resists high voltage, so it is used in electrical and electronics goods.
Example
The Koderma-Gaya-Hazaribagh belt in Jharkhand is India's leading mica-producing area. Nellore in Andhra Pradesh gives the best-quality mica.
Don't confuse with
- Metallic minerals: these are mined to extract a metal, such as iron from haematite or aluminium from bauxite.
Related concepts
- Mineral
- Ore
- Classification of minerals
- Characteristics of minerals
- Ferrous minerals
- Non-ferrous minerals