UPSC Prelims 2013 · Question 13 of 99
UPSC Prelims 2013 question on Mineral Occurrences India
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2013
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicIndian Geography
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
Consider the following statements:
1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. 2 only
Verdict
Correct Answer: 2 only
Analysis
According to the official UPSC Answer Key for Prelims 2013, the correct option is 2 only.
This question tests the link between India’s rock systems and mineral resources. Gondwana is associated with coal, Dharwar with metallic minerals, and Tertiary rocks with petroleum and natural gas.
Statement by statement
1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds — Incorrect
Gondwana rocks are mainly famous for coal deposits.
Natural gas is generally found in younger Tertiary sedimentary basins and offshore regions.
Examples include Mumbai High, Assam, Gujarat and the Krishna-Godavari Basin.
2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma — Correct
Kodarma in Jharkhand is historically known for abundant mica deposits.
It is often called the Mica Capital of India.
The region is especially associated with high-quality muscovite mica.
3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum — Incorrect
Dharwar rocks are ancient metamorphic rocks and are known for metallic minerals.
They are associated with gold, iron ore, manganese and copper.
Petroleum is found in younger sedimentary basins, not in Dharwar rocks.
Extra UPSC info
* Gondwana rocks contain most of India’s coal reserves.
* Important Gondwana coal regions include the Damodar, Mahanadi, Godavari and Son valleys.
* Dharwar rocks are important for metallic minerals such as gold, iron ore and manganese.
* Kolar Gold Fields are associated with the Dharwar system.
* Petroleum and natural gas are mainly found in Tertiary sedimentary basins.
* Important petroleum and gas regions include Assam, Gujarat, Mumbai High and the Krishna-Godavari Basin.
How to crack it
Only the statement on mica in Kodarma is correct; Gondwana is linked with coal, while Dharwar rocks are linked with metallic minerals, not petroleum.