- Iron and steel industry is the largest mineral-based industry in India.
- Raw materials : Iron ore, coal, manganese, limestone and dolomite.
- Locational factors : Availability of raw materials, transportation facilities, availability of water, export facilities, availability of labour, cheap availability of power, etc.
- Mining possibilities : Iron is extracted from iron ore. Nearly 20% of the total iron ore reserves in the world is in India.
The major mining centres of iron ore in India are :
Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj – Odisha
Singhbhum – Jharkhand Bellary,
Chikmagalur – Karnataka
- Manganese : This is a metallic mineral largely used in the iron and steel industry. Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra are the leading producers.
- Coal : This is the major source of thermal power in India. West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha are the major producing states.