Copper
- Properties: Excellent electrical conductor, ductile, and used in many industries like automobile, defense, and electrical.
- Reserves in India: India has limited copper reserves (712.5 million tonnes) with a low-grade ore content (less than 1%).
- Major Copper-Producing Areas:
- Madhya Pradesh: Largest producer, mainly from Malanjkhand (Balaghat district).
- Rajasthan: Second-largest producer, key area in the Khetri-Singhana belt (Jhunjhunu).
- Jharkhand: Important reserves in Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, and other districts.
Chromite
- Properties: Steel-grey, lustrous, high melting point, resists corrosion and wear.
- Uses: Alloying metal, important in steel production, manufacturing of refractories, and chemical industries.
- Reserves in India: Estimated at 203 million tonnes; 93% of chromite resources are in Odisha.
- Odisha: Accounts for 99% of production (Keonjhar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal).
- Other States: Karnataka (second-largest producer), Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Nickel
- Properties: Lustrous, corrosion-resistant, high melting point, tough, and has excellent strength at high temperatures.
- Uses: Alloys with many metals, used in manufacturing armoured plates, bullet jackets, stainless steel, and consumer products.
- Health Risks: High exposure can cause lung, nose, and prostate cancer, respiratory failure, and allergic reactions.
- Nickel Distribution in India:
- Odisha: 92% of resources, primarily in Sukinda valley.
- Other States: Jharkhand (associated with copper mineralization), Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan.
- Polymetallic Sea Nodules: An additional source of nickel.
