North-Western mineral belt
Topic: Mineral Resources of India: Distribution and Conservation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 5 "Mineral and Energy Resources"
Meaning
The North-Western mineral belt runs along the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan and part of Gujarat. Its minerals lie in Dharwar rocks, very old rocks of the Peninsula. It gives copper and zinc, building stones (sandstone, granite and marble), gypsum and Fuller's earth (a clay used for cleaning). It also gives limestone and dolomite, which are used to make cement. Gujarat is known for petroleum, and both states produce salt.
Example
The Rampura Agucha mine in Bhilwara district, Rajasthan, is one of the world's largest zinc mines. Khetri in Jhunjhunu district is known for copper.
Don't confuse with
- South-Western Plateau mineral belt: this belt covers Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and is known for high-grade iron ore, not copper-zinc and building stone.
Related concepts
- Distribution of minerals in India
- Mangaluru-Kanpur line
- Mineral belts of India
- North-Eastern Plateau mineral belt
- South-Western Plateau mineral belt