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Q78 (IAS/2022) Geography › Indian Economic Geography › Mineral resource distribution Official Key

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 ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 2 (1, 2 and 4 only). Here is the comprehensive breakdown:

  • Statement 1 and 2 are correct: Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral containing rare earth metals (like Cerium and Neodymium) and significant amounts of Thorium, which is crucial for India’s three-stage nuclear power program.
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: While monazite is found in the beach sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, it does not occur naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands. Its distribution is localized and concentrated in specific heavy mineral sand deposits.
  • Statement 4 is correct: Monazite is a "prescribed substance" under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Due to its radioactive nature, the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a government body, holds the exclusive rights to process and export monazite. Private entities are prohibited from handling it to ensure national security and nuclear safety.

Therefore, since statement 3 is factually overgeneralized, Option 2 is the only accurate choice.

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Q. With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Mon…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10

This is a classic '2+1' question: 2 facts from NCERT Geography (Statements 1 & 2), 1 logic-based elimination trap (Statement 3), and 1 regulatory fact (Statement 4). The key to solving wasn't knowing the regulation, but spotting the geographical impossibility in Statement 3.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In India, is monazite a source of rare earth elements?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
Presence: 5/5
“Torium is a by-product of the extraction of rare earths from monazite sands. Torium was used for the breeding of nuclear fuel uranium. It is used as a nuclear fuel in aircraft engines. Torium is a very efective radiation shield. India's Kakrapara-1 reactor is the world's frst reactor which uses thorium. Australia, USA, and India have large deposits of thorium, followed by Canada, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states thorium is a by-product of extracting rare earths from monazite sands.
  • Directly links monazite sands with the extraction of rare earth elements.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
Presence: 4/5
“Nuclear energy has emerged as a viable source in recent times. Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium. Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. World's richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Odisha.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies monazite in beach sands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu as the source of thorium.
  • Describes large monazite deposits in India (Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha), implying commercial recovery of associated minerals.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > ii) The West Coastal Plain > p. 65
Presence: 3/5
“The backwaters are important tourist spots, and are of importance for transportation, fishing and even agriculture. The region has deposits of Monazite sands which is reddish brown and rich in phosphate. Monazite is radioactive due to the presence of thorium.”
Why this source?
  • Notes the west coastal plain has monazite sands containing thorium, establishing coastal placer occurrence in India.
  • Links monazite’s radioactivity to thorium, supporting its role as a source of nuclear/associated rare elements.
Statement 2
Does monazite in India contain thorium?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > ii) The West Coastal Plain > p. 65
Presence: 5/5
“The backwaters are important tourist spots, and are of importance for transportation, fishing and even agriculture. The region has deposits of Monazite sands which is reddish brown and rich in phosphate. Monazite is radioactive due to the presence of thorium.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links monazite sands to radioactivity caused by the presence of thorium.
  • Identifies monazite deposits on the west coastal plain as containing thorium.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
Presence: 5/5
“Nuclear energy has emerged as a viable source in recent times. Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium. Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. World's richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Odisha.”
Why this source?
  • States thorium is mainly obtained from monazite (and ilmenite) in beach sands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • Notes the location of world's richest monazite deposits, implying these sands are a thorium source.
NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > Nuclear or Atomic Energy > p. 117
Presence: 5/5
“It is obtained by altering the structure of atoms. When such an alteration is made, much energy is released in the form of heat and this is used to generate electric power. Uranium and Thorium, which are available in Jharkhand and the Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan are used for generating atomic or nuclear power. The Monazite sands of Kerala is also rich in Thorium. Locate the 6 nuclear power stations and find out the state in which they are located.”
Why this source?
  • Declares that monazite sands of Kerala are rich in thorium.
  • Places thorium alongside uranium as an atomic mineral available in Indian geological settings, linking monazite to nuclear resource supply.
Statement 3
Does monazite occur naturally across the entire stretch of Indian coastal sands?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Monazite is found in the coastal tracts of Cuttack and Ganjam districts of Orissa. In Andhra Pradesh, thick ilmenite and monazite placers are found around Vishakapatnam and Bhimunipatnam. The beach sands in Kerala and Tamil Nadu are also very rich in monazite."
Why this source?
  • Names specific coastal tracts (Cuttack and Ganjam in Orissa; Vishakapatnam and Bhimunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh; Kerala and Tamil Nadu) where monazite is found.
  • By listing particular localities rather than stating a continuous presence, the passage implies monazite occurs in certain coastal placer deposits, not uniformly across the entire coast.
  • Source is an official mines/technical document describing occurrence and concentrations.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"though India has abundant geological reserves of rare earth elements, especially in monazite-rich coastal sands, it is the least contributor to the global supply chain"
Why this source?
  • States India has abundant geological reserves 'especially in monazite-rich coastal sands', confirming significant but location-specific monazite occurrences.
  • Mentions constraints (regulatory/technological) affecting production, implying the resource is concentrated and managed rather than ubiquitous.

INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
Strength: 5/5
“Nuclear energy has emerged as a viable source in recent times. Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium. Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. World's richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Odisha.”
Why relevant

Lists specific coastal locations where the world's richest monazite deposits occur (Palakkad and Kollam in Kerala, near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Mahanadi delta in Odisha), implying occurrence is concentrated in particular coastal segments.

How to extend

Compare these named locations with a map of the Indian coastline to see which coastal stretches are explicitly indicated and which are not.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Mineral Belts of India > p. 3
Strength: 4/5
“• S.No.: 3; Name of the Belt: The Southern Belt; Region: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.; Minerals Found: Gold, iron ore, chromite, manganese, lignite, mica, bauxite, gypsum, asbestos, dolomite, ilmenite, china-clay, and limestone; Features: • S.No.: 4; Name of the Belt: The Western Belt; Region: Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.; Minerals Found: Non-ferrous metals like copper, lead, zinc, uranium, mica, manganese, salt, asbestos, building stonnes, precious stonnes, mineral oil, and natural gas.; Features: • S.No.: 5; Name of the Belt: The South Western Belt; Region: Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala; Minerals Found: Iron ore, ilmenite, zircon, monazite sands, garnet, china clay, bauxite, mica, limestone, and soapstone.; Features: • S.No.: 6; Name of the Belt: The Himalayan Belt; Region: ; Minerals Found: ; Features: • S.No.: 7; Name of the Belt: The Indian Ocean; Region: Continental shelf of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal; Minerals Found: Mineral oil and natural gas, seabed also contains high grade nodules (at depth of 4000 m) of manganese, phosphate, barium, aluminium, silicon, iron, titanium, sodium, potassium, chromium, monazite, ilmenite, magnetite, and garnet; Features: The following (Table 7.2) provides the details on production and value in crores for the various minerals in India.”
Why relevant

Identifies monazite sands among minerals of the South Western Belt (Goa, Karnataka, Kerala) and notes monazite on the continental shelf of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, indicating both coastal and offshore concentrations rather than uniform coverage.

How to extend

Use the belt/continental-shelf pattern to infer that monazite distribution follows geological belts and offshore sediment settings, not an unbroken coastal band.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 30
Strength: 4/5
“deposits occur in Singhbhum and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand, and Gaya district of Bihar, and in sedimentary rocks of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The largest source of uranium comprise the monazite sands, both beach and alluvial. Monazite sand rich in uranium is found in Kerala. Some uranium is found in the copper and zinc mines of Udaipur (Rajasthan). The total reserves of uranium as estimated by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, are about 31,000 tonnes. Uranium Corporation of India Limited, exploits the atomic minerals commercially. The important uranium mining centres of India are: (i) Jharkhand–Bagjata, Banduhurang, Bhateen, Jaduguda, Mohuldeeh, Narwapur and Turamdeeh, (ii) Meghalaya-Keleng-Pindeng, Maothabah, Shahiyong, and Vakheen, (iii) Andhra Pradesh-Lambapur, Paddagtu and Tummalapalle.”
Why relevant

States 'Monazite sand rich in uranium is found in Kerala', giving a concrete example of coastal monazite concentration in a specific state rather than along the entire coast.

How to extend

Map Kerala as a confirmed monazite-bearing coast and check adjacent coastal states for similar explicit mentions to judge continuity.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > The Eastern Coastal Plain > p. 65
Strength: 3/5
“The eastern coastal plain lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, and stretches along the coasts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. These plains are formed by the alluvial fillings of the littoral zone comprising some of the largest deltas of the world. The East-Coastal Plains consist mainly of Recent and Tertiary alluvial deposits. These are gentle, monotonous plains rising gently westward to the foot of the Eastern Ghats. The monotony of the topography is broken by the presence of numerous hills. This coastal”
Why relevant

Describes the eastern coastal plain (Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu) as composed of recent and tertiary alluvial deposits and large deltas—settings where heavy mineral placers like monazite can form, but not asserting they do everywhere.

How to extend

Combine this physiographic description with known monazite occurrence points (e.g., Mahanadi delta) to hypothesize which deltaic/alluvial stretches may host monazite and which (e.g., rocky or erosional coasts) may not.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
Strength: 2/5
“Torium is a by-product of the extraction of rare earths from monazite sands. Torium was used for the breeding of nuclear fuel uranium. It is used as a nuclear fuel in aircraft engines. Torium is a very efective radiation shield. India's Kakrapara-1 reactor is the world's frst reactor which uses thorium. Australia, USA, and India have large deposits of thorium, followed by Canada, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey.”
Why relevant

Explains that thorium is a by-product of extracting rare earths from monazite sands, implying economic/geological interest concentrates where recoverable monazite occurs rather than uniformly along coasts.

How to extend

Use the economic link (thorium recovery) to identify and compare regions with known thorium/monazite exploitation to coastal stretches lacking such activity.

Statement 4
Are only government bodies allowed to process or export monazite in India?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 30
Presence: 3/5
“deposits occur in Singhbhum and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand, and Gaya district of Bihar, and in sedimentary rocks of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The largest source of uranium comprise the monazite sands, both beach and alluvial. Monazite sand rich in uranium is found in Kerala. Some uranium is found in the copper and zinc mines of Udaipur (Rajasthan). The total reserves of uranium as estimated by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, are about 31,000 tonnes. Uranium Corporation of India Limited, exploits the atomic minerals commercially. The important uranium mining centres of India are: (i) Jharkhand–Bagjata, Banduhurang, Bhateen, Jaduguda, Mohuldeeh, Narwapur and Turamdeeh, (ii) Meghalaya-Keleng-Pindeng, Maothabah, Shahiyong, and Vakheen, (iii) Andhra Pradesh-Lambapur, Paddagtu and Tummalapalle.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies monazite sands as a major source of uranium (linking monazite to atomic minerals).
  • Notes Uranium Corporation of India Limited exploits atomic minerals commercially, implying specialized/controlled handling of such minerals.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 14: Infrastructure and Investment Models > 14.11 Coal, Coal Mines Act 2015 and MMDR Act 2015 > p. 427
Presence: 5/5
“Introduction: In the federal structure of India, the "Regulation of mines and mineral development" falls under the Union List. Accordingly, the Central Government frames rules and regulation regarding the development and extraction of minerals but it has entrusted the respective state governments with mining related activities except in case of Coal, Petroleum & Natural gas and atomic minerals. The State Governments are the owners of minerals located within the boundary of the State concerned and have the authority to collect "taxes/ royalty" on mineral rights. The Central Government is the owner of the minerals underlying the ocean within the territorial waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that regulation of mines and mineral development is a Union (central) subject.
  • Specifically excepts atomic minerals from state-level entrusted activities, implying central government control over atomic minerals.
NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > All living things need minerals > p. 107
Presence: 4/5
“Rat-Hole Mining. Do you know that most of the minerals in India are nationalised and their extraction is possible only after obtaining due permission from the government? But in most of the tribal areas of the north-east India, minerals are owned by individuals or communities. In Meghalaya, there are large deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone and dolomite etc. Coal mining in Jowai and Cherapunjee is done by family member in the form of a long narrow tunnel, known as 'Rat hole' mining. The National Green Tribunal has declared such activities illegal and recommended that these should be stopped forthwith.”
Why this source?
  • States most minerals in India are nationalised and extraction is possible only after obtaining government permission.
  • Supports the idea that processing/extraction of strategic minerals requires government authorization.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC creates difficulty by mixing domains. A Geography question about Monazite suddenly introduces a Legal/Regulatory statement. The pattern is: Resource Properties + Resource Distribution + Resource Regulation.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Logic-based Sitter. Solvable purely by eliminating Statement 3 (Extreme Word 'entire'). Source: NCERT Class XII (India People & Economy) + Common Sense.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Energy Resources > Atomic Minerals. Specifically, the intersection of Geography (Location) and Polity (Regulation of Strategic Sectors).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Beach Sand Minerals' (BSM) complex: Ilmenite & Rutile (Titanium), Zircon (Zirconium), Garnet (Abrasives), Sillimanite (Refractory). Know that IREL (India Rare Earths Limited) is the monopoly player under Dept of Atomic Energy.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading about minerals in Geography, always ask the Polity question: 'Is this a Minor Mineral (State control) or a Major/Atomic Mineral (Central control)?' This distinction is a recurring UPSC theme.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Monazite sands as sources of rare earths and thorium
💡 The insight

Monazite sands are commercially exploited for rare earths with thorium recovered as a by-product.

High-yield for questions on strategic and nuclear minerals; links mineralogy to national energy resources and extraction economics. Mastery helps answer questions on resource value chains and strategic mineral policy.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
🔗 Anchor: "In India, is monazite a source of rare earth elements?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Coastal placer deposits and regional distribution
💡 The insight

Monazite occurs in beach and alluvial sands along Kerala and the south-western coast.

Useful for mapping mineral occurrences and for questions on coastal resource geography; connects physical geography (placers) with economic geology and regional development.

📚 Reading List :
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > The South-Western Plateau Region > p. 54
🔗 Anchor: "In India, is monazite a source of rare earth elements?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Radioactivity and co-occurrence with uranium/thorium in monazite
💡 The insight

Monazite sands contain thorium and sometimes uranium, making them radioactive and relevant to nuclear resource discussions.

Important for UPSC topics on nuclear energy resources, environmental safety, and mineral regulations; enables cross-topic answers linking resource distribution, energy policy, and environmental concerns.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 30
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > ii) The West Coastal Plain > p. 65
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
🔗 Anchor: "In India, is monazite a source of rare earth elements?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Monazite sands as primary source of thorium
💡 The insight

Monazite sands are the principal mineral from which thorium is obtained in India.

High-yield for questions on mineral resources and nuclear raw materials; links coastal mineralogy to strategic resource availability and helps answer questions on resource origin and extraction.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > ii) The West Coastal Plain > p. 65
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
🔗 Anchor: "Does monazite in India contain thorium?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Geographic concentration of monazite (Kerala and coastal Tamil Nadu)
💡 The insight

Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu host the richest monazite deposits that carry thorium.

Useful for map-based and region-specific questions on resource distribution, coastal geology, and regional economic implications of mineral deposits.

📚 Reading List :
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
  • NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 5: Print Culture and the Modern World > Nuclear or Atomic Energy > p. 117
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > ii) The West Coastal Plain > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "Does monazite in India contain thorium?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Thorium as an atomic mineral and by-product of rare-earth extraction
💡 The insight

Thorium is an atomic mineral used in nuclear energy and occurs as a by-product when extracting rare earths from monazite sands.

Relevant for GS topics on energy resources, strategic minerals, and policy; links mining, rare-earth metallurgy, and nuclear fuel considerations in exam questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 30
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > thorium > p. 40
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
🔗 Anchor: "Does monazite in India contain thorium?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Localized coastal monazite distribution
💡 The insight

Monazite occurs in specific coastal pockets (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Vishakhapatnam area of Andhra, Mahanadi delta in Odisha and parts of Goa/Karnataka), not uniformly along the entire Indian coast.

High-yield for questions on mineral geography and resource concentration; links to coastal geomorphology, regional resource policy, and mining implications. Mastering this helps answer why minerals cluster regionally and assess site-specific environmental and regulatory issues.

📚 Reading List :
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 30
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Mineral Belts of India > p. 3
🔗 Anchor: "Does monazite occur naturally across the entire stretch of Indian coastal sands?"
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Since Monazite (Thorium) is asked, the next logical target is Ilmenite or Rutile (sources of Titanium) or Zircon. Also, look out for 'Vanadium' (found in Arunachal Pradesh) or 'Lithium' (found in J&K/Karnataka) as the next strategic mineral questions.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply the 'Geological Homogeneity Test'. Statement 3 says Monazite occurs in the 'entire' Indian coastal sands. Nature is never uniform. Placer deposits form only in specific deltaic or beach environments (like Kerala/Odisha), never continuously along 7500+ km. If 3 is False, Options A, C, and D are eliminated. Answer B is derived without even knowing Statement 4.

🔗 Mains Connection

Connect Monazite to GS-3 (Energy Security): India's Three-Stage Nuclear Programme relies on Thorium (Stage 3). Also GS-2 (IR): The global race for Rare Earth Elements (REE) to reduce dependence on China.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2004 · Q92 Relevance score: 3.40

Consider the following statements: 1. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research uses fast reactor technology. 2. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Research and Exploration is engaged in heavy water production. 3. Indian Rare Earths Limited is engaged in the manufacture of Zircon for India’s Nuclear Programme beside other rare earth products. Which of the statements given above are correct?

IAS · 2021 · Q86 Relevance score: 2.42

Consider the following statements: 1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters. 2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters. 3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters. Which of the statements given above are correct?

IAS · 2009 · Q88 Relevance score: 1.53

Consider the following statements: 1. India does not have any deposits of Thorium. 2. Kerala's monazito sands contain Uranium. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

IAS · 2012 · Q11 Relevance score: -0.18

Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called “rare earth metals”. Why? 1. China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export 2. Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country. 3. Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2019 · Q22 Relevance score: -0.21

Consider the following statements : 1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only. 2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only. 3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?