India 2018

Industry 365
Copper
The total resources of copper ore in the country as in 2015 are estimated at
1511.50 million tonnes with about 12.16 million tonnes of copper metal. Of these
207.77 million tonnes (13.74 per cent) fall under Reserve category containing
2.73 million tonnes of copper metal and the balance 1303.73 million tonnes (86.26
per cent) are 'Remaining Resources' containing 9.42 million tonnes of copper
metal. Rajasthan is credited with 813.33 million tonnes ore (54 per cent)
containing 4.48 million tonnes of copper metal, Madhya Pradesh 283.43 million
tonnes ore (19 per cent), containing 3.42 million tonnes copper, Jharkhand, 295.39
million tonnes ore (20 per cent), containing 3.28 million tonnes of copper metal
and the rest 7 per cent are accounted for by other states namely Andhra Pradesh,
Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha,
Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Gold
As per UNFC system, as in 2015, the total resources of gold ore (Primary and
Placer) in the country were estimated at 527.96 million tonnes. Out of these,
17.23 million tonnes were placed under reserves category and the remaining
510.73 million tonnes under remaining resources category. Total resources of
gold (primary), in terms of metal, stood at 654.74 tonnes. Out of these, 70.09
tonnes were placed under reserves category and 584.65 tonnes under remaining
resources category. The resources include placer-type gold ore in Kerala
estimated at 26.12 million tonnes containing 5.86 tonnes gold metal.
By states, largest resources in terms of gold ore (primary) are located in
Bihar (44 per cent) followed by Rajasthan (25 per cent) and Karnataka (21 per
cent), West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh (3 per cent each), Telangana & Madhya
Pradesh (2 per cent each). Remaining very small quantity of resources of ore
are located in Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
In terms of metal content, Karnataka remained on top followed by Rajasthan,
Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, etc.
Iron Ore
Hematite and magnetite are the most important iron ores in India. About 59
per cent hematite ore deposits are found in the eastern sector. About 92 per cent
magnetite ore deposits occur in southern sector, especially in Karnataka. Of
these, hematite is considered to be superior because of its higher grade. Indian
deposits of hematite belong to the precambrian iron ore series and the ore is
within banded iron ore formations occurring as massive, laminated, friable and
also in powdery form.
As per UNFC system, the total resources of hematite as in 2015 are
estimated at 22,487 million tonnes of which 5,442 million tonnes (24 per cent)
are under 'reserves' category and the balance 17,045 million tonnes (76 per cent)
are under 'remaining resources' category. By grades, lumps constitute about 56
per cent followed by fines (21 per cent), lumps with fines (13 per cent) and the