Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Bauxite
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
India is rich in various mineral resources, and questions about which ores are abundant in the country are common in general knowledge and competitive exams. Understanding these resources is important for economic geography and industrial development. This question focuses on identifying which listed ore is found in especially large abundance in India and is significant for the nation's mining and metal industries.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Bauxite is the chief ore of aluminium and is widely distributed in India, with large deposits in states such as Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. India is considered one of the major bauxite producing countries in the world. Magnetite is an iron ore, and although India does have iron ores, hematite is more prominent in discussions of Indian iron deposits. Monazite is present in beach sands along the coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu but is not as broadly distributed. Fluorspar is not mentioned as a major abundant ore in standard summaries of Indian mineral resources. Therefore, among the options, bauxite is recognised as being found in especially large abundance in India.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that bauxite is the primary ore of aluminium and that India is known for its significant bauxite reserves.
Step 2: Identify that magnetite, while an iron ore, is not typically highlighted as the most abundant ore in India compared with the prominence of bauxite for aluminium.
Step 3: Note that monazite occurs in restricted coastal regions and is important for rare earth elements and thorium, but its distribution is more limited.
Step 4: Recognise that fluorspar is not commonly listed among the most abundant Indian ores.
Step 5: Conclude that bauxite is the ore found in large abundance across multiple Indian states and choose bauxite as the answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Economic geography and Indian resource maps show extensive bauxite reserves in the Eastern Ghats and Western regions. These maps and textbooks repeatedly note India's strong position in bauxite production, supporting the aluminium industry. By contrast, while India has iron ore, coal, and some monazite, these are often described in different contexts and not always emphasised as the most abundant ore overall. This pattern of emphasis in educational materials confirms that bauxite is a particularly abundant and strategically important ore in India.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fluorspar is not widely known as a major Indian ore and tends to appear less prominently in lists of key mineral resources. Magnetite is one type of iron ore, but Indian iron ore discussions often focus on hematite, and the question targets an ore highlighted for its abundance, which is more strongly associated with bauxite. Monazite, although significant for rare earth elements and thorium, is found mainly in certain coastal sands and is not typically described as broadly abundant throughout the country. These ores do not match the description of being found in especially large abundance across India in the way that bauxite does.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the importance of an ore for strategic reasons with its overall abundance. For example, monazite is strategically important but not as widespread as bauxite. Others may assume that any iron ore like magnetite must be the most abundant due to the importance of iron and steel industries, without considering the specific emphasis placed on bauxite in Indian geography. To avoid such mistakes, pay attention to which ores textbooks specifically describe as abundant in India, and remember that bauxite is prominently highlighted.
Final Answer:
Among the ores listed, the one found in especially large abundance in India is bauxite, the chief ore of aluminium.
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