With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India. 4. In India, Government bodies only can process or

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Q: 28 (IAS/2022)
With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

question_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,205,91,33,205,17,41

keywords: 

{'export monazite': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'entire indian coastal sands': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'monazite': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'rare earths': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'india': [8, 1, 7, 13], 'thorium': [1, 0, 0, 1]}

  1. Monazite is a source of rare earths: This statement is correct. Monazite is a mineral that contains a mix of various rare earth elements such as cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and yttrium.

  2. Monazite contains thorium: This statement is also correct. Monazite typically contains about 6-8% thorium by weight.

  3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India: This statement is partially correct. While monazite is indeed present in many coastal areas of India, it is not present in the entire coastal region. Monazite deposits are found mainly in the coastal areas of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

  4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite: This statement is not entirely correct. While the Indian government does control the mining and processing of monazite to some extent, private companies can also engage in these activities with proper licenses and permits from the government. However, the export of monazite is prohibited for private entities, and only government agencies can export it.

 

Preparing for Future Exams: Learning from the Analysis of Past Questions

Topics:

  • Mineral resources in India
  • Rare earth elements
  • Thorium deposits
  • Indian mining and export policies

Sources:

  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
  • Economic Survey of India
  • Mineral Resources of India by G.K. Sharma

NCERT Chapters:

  • Class 8: Chapter 3 - Mineral and Power Resources
  • Class 10: Chapter 5 - Minerals and Energy Resources
  • Class 12: Chapter 14 - Natural Resources

Reference Book Chapters:

  • Geology and Mineral Resources of India by V.C. Vennkatraman
  • Indian Minerals Yearbook by Indian Bureau of Mines
  • Mineral Resources of India: A Review by S.K. Bhargava and S. C. Mathur

Related Concepts:

  • Geology and mineralogy of rare earth elements
  • Environmental impact of mining and processing of minerals
  • International trade of rare earth elements
  • Indian nuclear energy policy and the use of thorium

It is important to note that the study of mineral resources in India involves not only the scientific aspects of mineral deposits but also the economic, social, and environmental aspects of mining and extraction. Understanding the policies and regulations governing the mining and export of minerals can provide insights into the country's economic development and global economic relations.

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