Non-metallic minerals are those without metal content, categorized into fuel minerals (coal, petroleum, natural gas) and non-fuel minerals (mica, limestone, salt, potash, granite, sandstone, marble, etc.).
Usage and Distribution:
- Coal: Primarily used for thermal power generation and iron ore smelting.
Distribution: Major Gondwana coal fields are in Damodar Valley, with Jharia as the largest, followed by Raniganj. Other coal-associated river valleys include Godavari, Mahanadi, and Sone. Tertiary coals occur in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. Lignite is found in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Gujarat, and Jammu and Kashmir. - Petroleum: Essential for internal combustion engines in automobiles, railways, and aircraft. Its by-products are used in petrochemical industries for fertilizers, synthetic rubber, fibers, medicines, lubricants, wax, soap, and cosmetics.
Distribution: Found in tertiary sedimentary rocks. Key oilfields include Digboi, Nahar Katiya, and Moran in Assam; Ankaleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Nawagam, Kosamba, and Lunej in Gujarat; and exploratory wells in Krishna-Godavari and Kaveri basins on the east coast. - Natural Gas: Used for electricity generation, industrial heating, and as raw material in chemical, petrochemical, and fertilizer industries. It is also a preferred transport (CNG) and cooking fuel (PNG).
Distribution: Major reserves are in Mumbai High and allied fields along the west coast, supplemented by the Cambay basin. New reserves are found in the Krishna-Godavari basin along the east coast. - Mica: Valued for its di-electric strength, low power loss, insulation, and high-voltage resistance, it is indispensable in electric and electronic industries.
Distribution: Found on the northern edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau, with the Koderma-Hazaribagh belt in Jharkhand as the leading producer. Ajmer in Rajasthan and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh are also significant mica-producing areas. - Limestone: A key raw material for the cement industry and essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnaces.
Distribution: Rajasthan leads with 21% of total production, followed by Madhya Pradesh (13%). Other producing states include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.
A clear roadmap and policy framework are needed for mineral mining to balance development and regional welfare.
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