Minerals are classified on the basis of their physical properties and chemical properties such as:
Metallic Minerals
Metallic minerals are those that are rich in metals and a source to procure a variety of metals like copper, gold, iron, etc. Bauxite, iron-ore are some examples of metallic minerals. There are two types of metallic minerals i.e. ferrous and non-ferrous.
Non-Metallic Minerals
Non-metallic minerals are those that do not have metal components. For features of the three mineral belts of India,
The mineral belts of minerals in India are as follows:
The North-Eastern Plateau Region This belt includes the regions of Chotanagpur (Jharkhand), Odisha plateau, West Bengal and parts of Chhattisgarh. Important minerals are iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite, mica.
The South-Western Plateau Region This belt includes Karnataka, Goa and contiguous uplands of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Ferrous metals and bauxite are concentrated here along with high-grade iron-ore, manganese, and limestone. Neyveli has lignite coal deposit. Deposits of Monazite sand and thorium are found in Kerala. Mines of iron-ore are located in Goa.
The North-Western Region Minerals of this belt are associated with the Dharwar system of rocks which are found in the Aravali in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. Major minerals are copper and zinc. Rajasthan is rich in building stones i.e. sandstone, granite, marble, fuller’s earth, and gypsum
