UPSC CSE Prelims
Mineral Resources Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 1, 2 and 4 only

Monazite is a radioactive mineral that serves as a major source of rare earth elements and thorium. In India, its processing and export are strictly regulated by government bodies due to its strategic importance and radioactive nature. Statement 3 is incorrect because monazite is not found along the entire Indian coastal stretch but is concentrated in specific regions.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Monazite is a primary source of rare earth elements like cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Monazite contains significant amounts of thorium, making it an important mineral for nuclear energy applications.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Monazite deposits are not found along the entire Indian coast; major deposits are concentrated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Government of India PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, is the only authorized entity to process and export monazite under the Atomic Energy Act.

📝 Short Notes: Monazite in India

• Composition: Brown crystalline mineral containing cerium, lanthanum, thorium, and other rare earth elements
• Occurrence: Found in placer deposits along coastal sands; main deposits in Kerala (Chavara, Manavalakurichi), Tamil Nadu, and Odisha
• Economic Importance: Source of rare earths used in high-performance magnets for wind turbines, electric vehicles, and robotics
• Strategic Importance: Contains thorium (8-10%), crucial for India's three-stage nuclear power program
• Regulatory Framework: Governed by Atomic Energy Act and Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004; export requires AERB license
• Processing Entity: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) is the sole government-authorized body for monazite extraction, processing, and export

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Coal bed methane is pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, but shale gas is primarily methane (not propane and butane only) extracted from fine-grained sedimentary shale rocks.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India has abundant coal bed methane sources in regions like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and also has identified shale gas sources in Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, and Cauvery basins, though exploitation remains nascent.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Gondwana beds are primarily coal-bearing formations formed during the Carboniferous to Jurassic period; natural gas in India is found in tertiary sedimentary rocks of Assam, Gujarat, and offshore Mumbai High, not in Gondwana beds.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Koderma district in Jharkhand is known as the "Mica Capital of India" and has abundant deposits of high-quality ruby mica (muscovite).

✅ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Dharwar rocks are ancient Precambrian metamorphic formations in Karnataka rich in gold, iron ore, and manganese; petroleum occurs in younger sedimentary basins, not in metamorphic Dharwar formations.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Indian coal has high ash content (35-45%), significantly higher than global average of ~15%, making it a defining characteristic.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Indian coal has low sulphur content (~0.5%), which is environmentally advantageous compared to many international coals.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Indian coal has high ash fusion temperature (~1,500°C), not low, making it unsuitable for entrained gasifiers in IGCC plants.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: China is the largest producer (controlling ~70% of global production) and has imposed export restrictions on rare earth metals, creating supply chain concerns.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Rare earth metals are found in many countries including the United States, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Russia, and South Africa, not just China, Australia, Canada, and Chile.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Rare earth metals are essential for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, LED screens, defence equipment, and other high-tech electronics, with demand growing rapidly.