Q80. Which of the following is NOT one of the belts of iron ore deposits in India?
[SSC Selection Post (Graduate Level), 18 September 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur belt
(B) Bellary–Chitradurga–Tumkur belt
(C) Maharashtra–Goa belt
(D) Ludhiana–Delhi–Kanpur belt
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (D) Ludhiana–Delhi–Kanpur belt
Explanation: The Ludhiana–Delhi–Kanpur region is an industrial and urban corridor, not a principal iron-ore mining belt. Major iron-ore belts occur in the peninsular shield, including Odisha–Jharkhand, Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur, Karnataka and Maharashtra–Goa.
Q79. Magnetite is the finest iron ore with a very high content of iron up to ___ per cent.
[SSC GD Constable, 7 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) 25
(B) 45
(C) 55
(D) 70
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (D) 70
Explanation: Magnetite is an iron oxide with the formula Fe₃O₄. Pure magnetite contains approximately 72.4% iron by mass, commonly rounded to about 70% in textbooks. It is strongly magnetic and serves as an important iron ore.
Q78. Which mineral is commonly referred to as the “key metal of industrial development”?
[SSC GD Constable, 29 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Copper
(B) Iron
(C) Aluminium
(D) Manganese
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (B) Iron
Explanation: Iron forms the foundation of the steel industry, supplying material for machinery, railways, buildings, bridges and tools. Industrialization greatly expanded its consumption. Steel is produced by refining iron and carefully controlling the amount of carbon and other alloying elements.
Q77. Identify the correct pairing between mineral resource and major producing region in India.
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (Geography), 19 April 2026]
(A) Iron ore – Thar Desert
(B) Petroleum – Chotanagpur Plateau
(C) Manganese – Indo-Gangetic Plain
(D) Bauxite – Koraput Plateau
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (D) Bauxite – Koraput Plateau
Explanation: The Koraput Plateau in Odisha contains important bauxite deposits, especially around Panchpatmali. Bauxite is the principal raw material for aluminium production. The other pairs associate resources with regions that are not their principal producing areas.
Q76. Match the minerals with mining areas in Rajasthan:
A. Emerald; B. Fluorite; C. Garnet; D. Calcite.
Areas: i. Rajmahal; ii. Belka Pahar; iii. Kalaguman; iv. Mando-ki-Pal.
[Rajasthan Police Sub-Inspector (GK & GS), 6 April 2026]
(A) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i
(B) A-iv, B-ii, C-iii, D-i
(C) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
(D) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (C) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
Explanation: Kalaguman is associated with emerald, Mando-ki-Pal with fluorite, Rajmahal with garnet and Belka Pahar with calcite. Matching regional deposits is important in Rajasthan geography, where commercially useful gemstones and industrial minerals occur in different geological zones.
Q75. India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025. Which of the following minerals is NOT part of its critical list?
[MP Police Sub-Inspector, 19 January 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Graphite
(B) Lithium
(C) Cobalt
(D) Gold
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (D) Gold
Explanation: Graphite, lithium and cobalt are strategically important inputs for batteries, energy storage and advanced manufacturing. Gold is a valuable precious metal, but it is not included among the specified critical minerals in the mission’s list referred to by this examination.
Q74. Which of the following is an ore of mercury?
[SSC MTS 2025 examination, 6 February 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Bauxite
(B) Magnetite
(C) Cinnabar
(D) Malachite
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (C) Cinnabar
Explanation: Cinnabar is mercury(II) sulphide, HgS, and is the best-known primary ore of mercury. Roasting it in air releases mercury vapour, which is condensed to obtain the metal. Bauxite yields aluminium, magnetite yields iron and malachite contains copper.
Q73. Which country has the largest reserve of iron ore in Asia?
[SSC MTS 2025 examination, 10 February 2026, Shift 2]
(A) India
(B) China
(C) Russia
(D) Iran
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (A) India
Explanation: The answer recorded in this SSC paper is India. India possesses important high-grade hematite and magnetite deposits, particularly across the peninsular plateau. Resource rankings depend on the reference year and definitions; the question reflects the examination’s stated classification.
Q72. The principal minerals produced in _______ are gold ore, iron ore, limestone, manganese ore, minor minerals and vermiculite.
[SSC MTS 2025 examination, 5 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Andhra Pradesh
(B) Gujarat
(C) Assam
(D) Rajasthan
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (A) Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Andhra Pradesh has varied geological formations yielding limestone, iron ore, manganese and several industrial minerals. Vermiculite is used in insulation and horticulture, whereas limestone is a major cement raw material. The combined mineral list identifies Andhra Pradesh.
Q71. Which plateau region is known as the “mineral heartland” or “storehouse of minerals” in India?
[Delhi Police Constable (Executive), 2 January 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Deccan Plateau
(B) Chota Nagpur Plateau
(C) Malwa Plateau
(D) Shillong Plateau
𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫: (B) Chota Nagpur Plateau
Explanation: The Chota Nagpur Plateau and neighbouring eastern plateau areas contain substantial coal, iron ore, mica, bauxite and other minerals. Their concentration encouraged the establishment of mining, steel and engineering industries, giving the region its well-known mineral-heartland description.