📌 Topic 01 of 6 · Chapter 07 · Minerals & Energy Resources
Iron Ore & Steel Minerals of India
Hematite, magnetite, distribution, Bailadila — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
⛏️ Iron Ore in India
| Type | Iron Content | Quality | Where Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hematite | 60–70% | Best quality; most common | Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa |
| Magnetite | 70–72% | Highest iron content; magnetic | Karnataka (Kudremukh), Tamil Nadu, Kerala |
| Limonite | 40–60% | Lower quality | Various states |
| Siderite | 40–48% | Lowest quality | Rare in India |
⛏️ Major Iron Ore Deposits
| State | Major Deposits | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Odisha | Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj | Largest iron ore producing state (~55% of India’s production) |
| Jharkhand | Singhbhum (Noamundi, Gua) | 2nd largest; high-quality hematite |
| Chhattisgarh | Bailadila (Dantewada), Dalli-Rajhara | Bailadila = largest iron ore deposit in India; exported to Japan |
| Karnataka | Kudremukh, Bellary-Hospet, Sandur | Kudremukh = magnetite; Bellary = hematite |
| Goa | Bicholim, Sanguem | Major exporter; low-grade ore |
⭐ Key Facts — Iron Ore:
• India = 4th largest iron ore producer in world
• Odisha = largest iron ore producing state (~55%)
• Bailadila (Chhattisgarh) = largest iron ore deposit in India
• Iron ore exported from Visakhapatnam port to Japan
• Hematite = most common type = best for steel making
• India = 4th largest iron ore producer in world
• Odisha = largest iron ore producing state (~55%)
• Bailadila (Chhattisgarh) = largest iron ore deposit in India
• Iron ore exported from Visakhapatnam port to Japan
• Hematite = most common type = best for steel making