Economic Geography Unit I – Mineral Resources – Contents

1. Iron ................................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. Formation of Iron Ore ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2. Types of Iron Ore ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Based on Ore Quality........................................................................................................................................ 1
Based on Iron Content ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Descriptions of Iron Ores .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.3. Applications of Iron Ore .......................................................................................................................... 2
1.4. Iron Ore Distribution Across the World .................................................................................................... 2
Iron Ore in Europe: Ruhr, South Whales, Krivoy Rog, Bilbao, Lorraine ............................................................. 2
Iron Ore in North America: Great Lakes (Mesabi Region), Labrador ............................................................... 3
Iron ore in Russia, Kazakhstan: Ural region, Magnitogorsk ............................................................................. 3
Iron Ore in China: Manchuria, Sinkiang, Si-kiang, Shandong Peninsula .......................................................... 4
Iron ore in Africa: Transvaal, Liberia ................................................................................................................ 5
Iron Ore in South America: Carajas, Itabira, Minas Geriais ............................................................................. 5
Iron Ore in Australia: Pilbara Region, Koolyanobbing, Iron Duke, Iron Knob ................................................... 6
Largest Iron Ore Producers ............................................................................................................................... 6
Largest Iron Ore Reserves (2021) ..................................................................................................................... 6
1.5. Iron Ore Distribution in India ................................................................................................................... 6
Hematite Reserves in India ............................................................................................................................... 7
Magnetite Reserves in India ............................................................................................................................. 8
Limonite and Siderite Reserves in India ............................................................................................................ 8
1.6. Iron Ore Production in India .................................................................................................................... 9
State-wise Production of Iron Ore in India ....................................................................................................... 9
1.7. Recent Measures ................................................................................................................................... 10
Supreme Court Raised the Ceiling Limit of Iron Ore Mining ........................................................................... 10

2. Coal .............................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.1. Formation of Coal ................................................................................................................................. 11
Older the Coal, Better the Carbon Content..................................................................................................... 12
Stages of Coal Formation ............................................................................................................................... 12
2.2. Classification of Coal — Peat, Lignite, Bituminous Coal, and Anthracite ................................................. 13
Peat ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Lignite (Brown Coal) ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Bituminous Coal (Black coal) .......................................................................................................................... 13
Anthracite Coal (Semi-metallic Lustre) ........................................................................................................... 14
2.3. Coking Coal vs. Non-Coking Coal (Thermal Coal).................................................................................... 14
2.4. Distribution of Coal Across the World .................................................................................................... 15
The U.S............................................................................................................................................................ 15
China .............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Europe ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
Others ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Global Coal Reserves ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Top Coal Producers (million tonnes) ............................................................................................................... 18
EG-MR - i

Top Coal consumers (million tonnes) .............................................................................................................. 18