I. Coal
1. Coal is an example of –
(a) Igneous
(b) Metamorphic rock
(c) Sedimentary
(d) All of the above
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (c) Sedimentary
- Sedimentary rocks are made up of sediment or reef powder that is layered together.
- They are also known as layered rocks and are found in 75% of the earth’s surface.
- They contain fossils and mineral oil and are made of minerals like coal, slate, limestone, salt, petroleum, and marble.
- Coal can be divided into four categories based on the amount of carbon and hardness –
- Anthracite is the top grade of coal, containing approximately 90-95% Carbon.
- Bituminous coal is the second most important type of coal and it is the most common. It contains between 70-90% carbon.
- Lignite is often known as brown coal and is made up of around 45-50% carbon. It is mainly used in power stations to produce electricity.
- Peat is the least valuable type of coal since it has the lowest amount of carbon (less than 40%), oxygen (35%), and hydrogen (nearly 5%).
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2. Coal, Crude Oil, and Natural gas are called –
(a) Crude Fuel
(b) Traditional Fuel
(c) Natural Fuel
(d) Fossil Fuel
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
Ans. (d) Fossil Fuel
- Coal, oil, and gas are all types of fossil fuel, which was created from the remains of dead animals and plants over millions of years.
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3. Which of the following statements are correct :
I. China is the leading coal producer of the World
II. Donetsk Basin is the major coal producing region in Ukraine
III. Saar Region is the major coal producing area in Germany
IV. The major coal mining areas of the USA lie in the Appalachian Region
Select the correct answer from the code given below :
Code :
(a) I, and II
(b) II and III
(c) I, II and III
(d) All
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]
Ans. (d) All
- China is the top producer of coal.
- Statement one is true.
- Donbass in Ukraine is a big coal-producing area.
- Statement two is correct.
- A big coal deposit is found in Saar, a forest in the southwest part of Germany near France.
- Statement three is also true.
- The Appalachian coal region in the United States has the highest quality coal.
- There are also Southern Appalachian, Western Interior and Rocky Mountain coal regions in the US.
- So statement four is also true.
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4. ‘Donbass’ region is famous for –
(a) Iron ore
(b) Coal
(c) Copper ore
(d) Gold
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (b) Coal
- The Donbas region, located in southeastern Europe, is well known for its coal resources.
- It consists of the two Ukrainian provinces Donetsk and Luhansk, and is a major industrial area.
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5. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I List-II
(Coal fields) (Countries)
A. Donetsk 1. Germany
B. Kuznetsk 2. U.K
C. Lancashire 3. Russia
D. Saar 4. Ukraine
Code :
A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 1 3 2 4
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) 4 3 2 1
- The correctly matched list of coal fields with their countries is as follows:
| (Coalfields) |
(Countries) |
| Donetsk |
Ukraine |
| Kuznetsk |
Russia |
| Lancashire |
U.K. |
| Saar |
Germany |
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6. Which of the following countries is the leading country in the reserve of Hard Coal?
(a) Nepal
(b) China
(c) New Zealand
(d) India
[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
Ans. (b) China
- China had the most coal reserves of any country when the question was asked, followed by the United States and India.
- According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2021, the United States had the most Anthracite and bituminous coal reserves at the end of 2020, followed by China and India.
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7. More than half of the world’s production of coal comes from :
(a) U.S.A. and Russia
(b) China and the U.S.A.
(c) China and India
(d) South Africa and Australia
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (b) China and the U.S.A.
- Option (b) is the right choice for the question posed.
- The World Mineral Production 2015-19 data shows that in 2019, China and India together produced more than half of the coal in the world.
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8. The Ruhr basin is the famous industrial region of –
(a) China
(b) Germany
(c) Japan
(d) United Kingdom
[U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) Germany
- The Ruhr is a river in Germany that runs through the Western Germany.
- The Valley it runs through is called the ‘Ruhr Basin’ and is home to numerous coal mines and industrial areas.
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9. Which of the following countries is the largest reservoir of coal?
(a) Australia
(b) China
(c) New Zealand
(d) Brazil
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) China
- When asked which country has the most coal, the answer is China.
- According to BP Statistical Review of world energy, 2021, Australia has the largest coal reserves out of the options given.
- The top three coal reserves worldwide are the USA, the Russian Union, and Australia.
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10. The highest coal-producing country in the world is-
(a) India
(b) USA
(c) China
(d) Russia
[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (c) China
- China produced the most coal in the year 2019, according to World Mineral Production 2015-19.
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11. Rukwa Lake region (Tanzania) is famous for which of the following minerals?
(a) Mica
(b) Coal
(c) Iron ore
(d) Gold
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (b) Coal
- The Rukwa Lake region in Tanzania is home to multiple stones that can be used for decorations such as –
- Emerald
- Moonstone
- Aquamarine
- Amethyst
- Ruby
- Topaz
- In addition, some coal layers have been discovered, and some coal mining operations have been conducted in the area.
- Therefore, option (b) is the right answer.
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12. Which of the following is not a coalfield of Germany?
(a) Ruhr Valley
(b) Lorraine Basin
(c) Saar Basin
(d) Achen Basin
(e) None of the above / More than one of the above
[66th B.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2020]
Ans. (b) Lorraine Basin
- Lorraine is an area in France located in the northeast part of the country.
- The other coal mining regions such as the Ruhr Valley, Saar Basin, and Achen Basin are all located in Germany.
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II. The Iron Ore
1. Which one is the second largest metal present in the earth’s womb?
(a) Iron
(b) Aluminium
(c) Copper
(d) Zinc
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (a) Iron
- Iron is the most common metal found in the Earth’s core.
- After this, nickel and aluminum come in second and third place, respectively.
- Aluminum is the most common metal found in the Earth’s crust, with iron coming in second.
- Nickel is the second-most common metal in the Earth’s core, but aluminum is the answer to this question.
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2. Identify the correct sequence of the iron ore-producing countries of the world in their descending order :
(a) Australia, China, Brazil, Sweden
(b) Brazil, Sweden, Australia, China
(c) China, Brazil, Sweden, Australia
(d) China, Brazil, Australia, Sweden
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (d) China, Brazil, Australia, Sweden
- In 2008, the countries that produced the most iron were China, Brazil, Australia, and Sweden, in that order.
- Now, according to the World Mineral Production 2015-19, the countries that produce the most iron in 2019 are Australia, China, Brazil, and India, in that order.
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3. Which one of the following is the largest producer of Iron ore in the world?
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Brazil
(d) France
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A . (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) China
- China produced the most Iron Ore in the world during the time in question.
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4. The first position in the production of Iron ore is of –
(a) Philippines
(b) America
(c) Russia
(d) India
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]
Ans. (d) India
- Australia, China, Brazil, and India are the top producers of Iron Ore.
- India is the correct answer since the other choices didn’t include it.
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5. The first three leading producers of iron ore in the world are:
(a) Australia, China, U.S.A.
(b) China, Russia, Australia
(c) Russia, U.S.A., China
(d) U.S.A., Russia, U.K.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (b) China, Russia, Australia
- When the question was asked, answer (b) was right.
- World Mineral Production 2015-19 showed that in 2019, the top 3 Iron ore producers in the world were Australia, China and Brazil.
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6. Superior Lake region in North America is famous for–
(a) Iron – ore reserves
(b) Coal reserves
(c) Gold reserves
(d) Uranium reserves
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (a) Iron – ore reserves
- The Lake Superior area in North America is well-known for its iron ore supplies.
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7. Among the iron-producing countries of Europe, France stands
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fourth
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010, 2013]
Ans. (*)
- In 2013, Russia, Ukraine, and Sweden were the top producers of Iron ore in Europe.
- France didn’t make the cut, but it was the fourth biggest producer of Pig Iron behind Germany, Russia, and Ukraine.
- So, if we’re looking at Iron ore production, none of the options are correct, but if we’re talking about Pig Iron, option (d) would be the right answer.
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8. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
List – I List–II
(Iron ore region) (Concerned Country)
A. Lorraine 1. Sweden
B. Midland 2. Kazakhstan
C. Kiruna 3. U.K
D. Kokshetau 4. France
Code :
A B C D
(a) 4 2 3 1
(b) 3 4 2 1
(c) 4 3 1 2
(d) 1 2 3 4
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (c) 4 3 1 2
- The correct match of list-I with list-II is as follows :
| (Iron Ore Region |
(Producer Country) |
| Lorraine |
France |
| Midland |
U.K |
| Kiruna |
Sweden |
| Kokshetau |
Kazakhstan |
|
9. Which one of the following is NOT correctly matching?
(Country) (Iron-Ore Producing Area)
(a) Kazakhstan – Karaganda
(b) Ukraine – Krivoy Rog
(c) Germany – Normandy
(d) France – Pyrenees
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020, U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2016]
Ans. (c) Germany – Normandy
- Correct match is as follows:
| (Country) |
(Iron-Ore Producing Area) |
| Kazakhstan |
Karaganda |
| Ukraine |
Krivoy Rog |
| Germany |
Normandy |
| France |
Pyrenees |
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10. Which of the following industries is most developed in the Great Lake region of North America?
(a) Cement and Paper
(b) Film Industries
(c) Food and Chemical
(d) Steel and Engineering
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (d) Steel and Engineering
- The Great Lakes region is split between two countries, the United States and Canada.
- The US has eight states that are part of the region:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
- Ontario is the Canadian province that borders the lake.
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III. The Copper
1. The largest producer of copper ore in the world is :
(a) Chile
(b) Poland
(c) U.S.A.
(d) Zaire
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]
Ans. (a) Chile
- In 2019, the three biggest makers of copper ore in the world were as per World Mineral Production 2015-19 –
- Thus, option (a) is the correct answer.
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2. Which of the following countries has been the largest producer of copper (2013)?
(a) Chile
(b) China
(c) Peru
(d) U.S.A.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2015]
Ans. (a) Chile
- Chile is the biggest producer of copper on the planet.
- In 2013, it made 5,750,000 tonnes of it annually, which is at least a third of the global amount.
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3. The leading producer of copper in the world is –
(a) Australia
(b) China
(c) India
(d) U.S.A.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (b) China
- China is the leading producer of copper, with Chile and Peru not having as many options.
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4. Statement (A): Chile is still a prominent copper producer in the world :
Reason (R): Chile is endowed with the largest deposits of porphyry copper.
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not correct the explantion of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is correct explanation of (A).
- Chile is the top producer of copper in the world, followed by Peru and China.
- This statement (A) is true.
- Copper deposits in the Andes mountain region are known as porphyry Copper deposits, such as the Chuquicamata mine in Northern Chile.
- These copper deposits are from the Eocene-Oligocene period, which makes statement (R) true.
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5. Chuquicamata (Chili) is worldwide famous for which of the following minerals?
(a) Copper
(b) Iron
(c) Silver
(d) Manganese
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (a) Copper
- Chuquicamata is a copper mine located in northern Chile.
- It is the biggest of its kind in the world, and it digs out more volume than any other open-pit copper mine.
- Chuquicamata is responsible for producing more than a quarter of Chile’s copper.
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6. African country Zambia has prolific copper reserves but economic progress has not been made in the country, because of –
(a) Dense Forests
(b) lack of means of transportation
(c) No seaport
(d) Less population
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1992]
Ans. (c) No seaport
- Zambia is a nation located in the middle of Africa without an ocean coastline.
- There is a stretch of land with lots of copper which connects Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the lack of a sea route prevents them from exporting the copper and progressing economically.
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7. Japan is almost self-sufficient in –
(a) Bauxite
(b) Iron ore
(c) Copper
(d) Mineral oil
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (c) Copper
- Japan produces enough copper to meet its own needs, but it does not produce enough of other materials such as Bauxite, Iron ore, and mineral oil.
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IV. The Gold
1. Arrange the following countries in their descending order of Gold production. Choose the correct answer using the code given below :
(i) Australia
(ii) China
(iii) South Africa
(iv) U.S.A.
Code :
(a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
(b) (iii) (iv) (i) (ii)
(c) (iv) (iii) (ii) (i)
(d) (ii) (iv) (i) (iii)
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) (iii) (iv) (i) (ii)
- When this question was asked, South Africa was the biggest gold producer.
- India’s Mineral Year Book 2020 states that the top four gold producers are –
- China
- Australia
- Russia
- USA
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2. ‘Kalgoorlie’ situated in Australia is famous for –
(a) Gold production
(b) Good Climate
(c) Education
(d) Poultry
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]
Ans. (a) Gold production
- Australia holds the most gold reserves in the world, and 70% of that gold comes from Western Australia.
- Two of the most important gold mines, Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, are located in Western Australia.
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3. Which of the following activities is performed at Coolgardie?
(a) Coal mining
(b) Copper mining
(c) Gold mining
(d) Forestry
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) Gold mining
- In Coolgardie, a town in south-central Western Australia, gold mining is done.
- Coolgardie is well-known in Australia for its gold mining.
- Focus Minerals Limited owns the Coolgardie Gold Mine.
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4. Coolgardie lies in the Australian province of –
(a) New South Wales
(b) Northern Territory
(c) Queensland
(d) Western Australia
[U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) Western Australia
- Coolgardie is a little town in Western Australia.
- It is situated inside the Coolgardie Bioregion, which is a part of the South-West Interzone of WA.
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5. Johannesburg is famous for –
(a) Gold mining
(b) Tin mining
(c) Mica mining
(d) Iron-ore mining
[42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (a) Gold mining
- Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and is located in Gauteng Province.
- It is well known for its gold and diamond mining activities.
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6. Which of the following countries is the largest exporter of gold to India?
(a) Brazil
(b) UAE
(c) Switzerland
(d) South Africa
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (c) Switzerland
- Switzerland was the biggest exporter of gold to India in the year the question was asked.
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7. Asia’s biggest gold market is :
(a) Jakarta, Indonesia
(b) Beijing, China
(c) Kathmandu, Nepal
(d) Meerut, India
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (b) Beijing, China
- China has overtaken India to become the largest gold market in Asia, according to the World Gold Council’s Report from 2012.
- China bought 612.5 metric tons of gold, while India purchased 463.1 metric tons.
- The biggest gold market in Asia is located in Beijing.
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V. The Silver
1. The largest producer of Silver in the world is:
(a) Chile
(b) China
(c) Mexico
(d) Peru
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (c) Mexico
- According to the Indian Mineral Yearbook – 2020 largest producers of silver in the world are –
| (Country) |
(In kilograms of Metal content) |
| Mexico |
5840000 |
| Peru |
3860306 |
| China |
3443128 |
| Poland |
1455000 |
| Russia |
1361000 |
- Note – Until 2009, Chile was the top producer of silver.
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2. Mexico is the largest producer of :
(a) Gold
(b) Copper
(c) Zinc
(d) Silver
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (d) Silver
- Mexico is the biggest producer of silver in the world, and it’s home to the biggest five silver-producing mines globally.
- It’s responsible for producing 21% of the world’s silver, with 70% being exported and the rest sold in Mexico.
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3. Which one of the following does not contain silver?
(a) Horn Silver
(b) German Silver
(c) Ruby Silver
(d) Lunar Caustic
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (b) German Silver
- German silver is another name for Nickel silver, Maillechort, New silver, Alpaca, etc.
- It is made up of copper, nickel, and sometimes zinc.
- It typically contains 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc.
- It has a silver-like look, but actually contains no silver.
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VI. The Aluminium
1. Which of the following is different from the remaining three –
(a) Haematite
(b) Magnetite
(c) Limonite
(d) Bauxite
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (d) Bauxite
- Bauxite is special because it is an Aluminium ore, while the other three (Haematite, Magnetite, and Limonite) are Iron ore.
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2. Bauxite is the ore of
(a) Iron
(b) Zinc
(c) Tin
(d) Aluminium
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (d) Aluminium
- Bauxite is different from Haematite, Magnetite and Limonite because Bauxite is an ore of Aluminium, whereas the other three are ores of Iron.
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3. The maximum aluminium-producing country in the world is–
(a) Germany
(b) India
(c) Iron
(d) U.S.A
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (d) U.S.A
- In 1993, the United States was the biggest producer of aluminum in the world.
- In 2019, according to the World Mineral Production 2015-19 report, the top aluminum producers globally were –
- China – 35043.6 Thousand Tonnes
- Russia – 3637.0 Thousand Tonnes
- India – 3628.8 Thousand Tonnes
- Canada – 2853.8 Thousand Tonnes
- UAE – 2600.0 Thousand Tonnes
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4. The largest producer of aluminium in the world is –
(a) France
(b) India
(c) U.S.A.
(d) Italy
[56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (b) India
- In 2019, China was the top producer of aluminium, followed by Russia, India, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.
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VII. The Tin
1. Tin is found-
(a) In Placer deposits
(b) In Metamorphic rocks
(c) In little silica Igneous rocks
(d) In all these
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (a) In Placer deposits
- Most of the world’s tin is located in places where minerals have been gathered together naturally by gravity.
- These places are usually near rivers, and are mainly found in Southeast Asia.
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2. The leading producer of Tin in the world is –
(a) Bolivia
(b) Brazil
(c) Indonesia
(d) Malesia
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (c) Indonesia
- The Indian Bureau of Mines states in its 2020 Indian Mineral Year Book that the biggest Tin producers in the world are –
| Country |
Production (Tonne) |
| China |
85840 |
| Indonesia |
77468 |
| Myanmar |
50000 |
| Peru |
19853 |
- Since China is not one of the choices, the right answer must be Indonesia.
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3. Malaysia, the ‘Kinta Valley’ is famous for:
(a) Rubber Production
(b) Tea Production
(c) Tin Production
(d) Coffee Production
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) Tin Production
- Malaysia’s Kinta Valley is well-known for its Tin mining.
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VIII. The Petroleum
1. In relation to the production of petroleum the correct ascending order of the countries is –
(a) China, Iran, U.S.A., Saudi Arabia
(b) Iran, U.S.A., China, Saudi Arabia
(c) Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. Iran, China
(d) U.S.A. Iran, China, Saudi Arabia
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (a) China, Iran, U.S.A., Saudi Arabia
- When this question was asked, option (a) was the correct answer.
- Currently, India’s top oil producers are listed in the Indian Mineral Year Book 2020 are –
- USA – 781 Million tonnes
- Russia – 561 Million tonnes
- Saudi Arabia – 557 Million tonnes
- Iraq – 234 Million tonnes
- Canada – 233 Million tonnes
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2. Which one among the following countries of the world, except the United States of America, is the largest crude oil producer?
(a) Russia
(b) China
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) Canada
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[64th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) Saudi Arabia
- In 2019, the United States was the biggest producer of raw oil, with Russia coming in second.
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3. The three leading producers of petroleum in the world in descending order are –
(a) Russia, Saudi Arabia, U.S.A.
(b) U.S.A., Saudi Arabia, Iran
(c) Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S.A.
(d) Saudi Arabia, U.S.A., Russia
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (*)
- The Indian Mineral Yearbook reported that in 2019, the top three countries that produced the most petroleum were –
- The United States
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
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4. In West Asia, the highest Petroleum producing country is :
(a) Iraq
(b) Iran
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) Lebanon
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (c) Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia is the top oil producer in West Asia and the third most productive in the world after the United States and Russia.
|
5. The largest petroleum producer in the world is –
(a) Kuwait
(b) Iran
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) Russia
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (d) Russia
- Back in 2010, the right answer to this question was (d).
- But nowadays, according to Indian Mineral Year Book – 2020, Saudi Arabia is the third biggest producer of petroleum, while USA and Russia are in first and second place respectively.
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6. The correct sequence of leading producers of petroleum, in the Middle East in descending order is
(a) Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
(b) Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait
(c) Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran
(d) Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (*)
- The 2020 Indian Mineral Yearbook states that the main oil producers in the Middle East are –
- Saudi Arabia
- Iraq
- The United Arab Emirates
- Iran
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7. Which of the following statements is true about petroleum production?
I. 60% of the world’s petroleum deposits are found in the Middle East.
II. The petroleum reserve in Alaska is certified equivalent to Texas.
III. The U.S.A. is a prominent producer and importer of petroleum.
Code :
(a) I and II are true
(b) II and III are true
(c) I and III are true
(d) All are true
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (d) All are true
- The Middle East countries, such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, have more than sixty percent of the world’s petroleum reserves.
- This makes statement I true.
- According to the Indian Mineral Year Book-2020, the Middle East has the biggest share (46.2%) of the petroleum deposits worldwide.
- The United States has petroleum reserves in 31 states, and the three states with the most reserves are Texas, Alaska, and California.
- Texas and Alaska have about the same amount of petroleum reserves.
- Currently, Alaska has more reserves than Texas.
- Also, according to the Indian Mineral Yearbook-2020, the United States is the largest producer of petroleum, followed by Russia, making statement III correct.
|
8. The largest producer of Petroleum in South East Asia is:
(a) Brunei
(b) Indonesia
(c) Malaysia
(d) Myanmar
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (b) Indonesia
- Indonesia is the most important source of oil in South Eastern Asia. Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan are the key areas for oil production in Indonesia.
|
9. Venezuela is a large –
(a) Banana Producer
(b) Zinc miner
(c) Heroin (Drug) producer
(d) Petroleum production centre
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (d) Petroleum production centre
- Venezuela is a South American country that produces a lot of oil.
- Oil is the most important part of the Venezuelan economy, bringing in 99% of the country’s export money, half of the government’s income, and 25% of the GDP.
|
10. The world’s largest reserves of mineral oil are in
(a) Venezuela
(b) Iran
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) Iraq
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (a) Venezuela
- The Indian Mineral Year Book-2020 published by the Indian Bureau of Mines states that Venezuela has the biggest amount of certified crude oil deposits, which is 48.0 billion tonnes.
- Saudi Arabia is in second place with 40.9 billion tonnes.
|
11. The largest petroleum reserves are found in :
(a) Iraq
(b) Iran
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) U.S.A.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (c) Saudi Arabia
- In 2006, option (c) was the right answer to this question, but now Venezuela is number one.
- According to the Indian Mineral Year Book 2020, the top five countries with the biggest Petroleum Reserves are:
| Country |
Reserve deposit (billion ton) |
| Venezuela |
48.0 |
| Saudi Arabia |
40.9 |
| Canada |
27.3 |
| Iran |
21.4 |
| Iraq |
19.6 |
|
12. Which country has the largest reserves of oil?
(a) United States
(b) China
(c) Russia
(d) Venezuela
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Venezuela
- Venezuela has the biggest sources of oil on the planet, with more than 300 billion barrels.
- Most of the oil in Venezuela is found in the Orinoco Belt, which is near the end of the eastern Orinoco River.
|
13. Which one of the following countries has the largest known reserves of oil :
(a) Kuwait
(b) Iran
(c) Iraq
(d) Nigeria
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (b) Iran
- According to Indian Mineral Year Book – 2020, the five countries with the highest oil reserves are Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, and Iraq.
- Out of these, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Canada are not mentioned in the options, so the correct answer is Iran.
|
14. Where is Ras Tanura Oil Refinery located?
(a) Iran
(b) United States of America
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) Iraq
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (c) Saudi Arabia
- Ras Tanura is an old oil refinery located near Jubail, a port city in Saudi Arabia.
- It first began operations in 1945.
|
15. Which country is the largest producer and consumer of gasohol?
(a) Brazil
(b) Cuba
(c) India
(d) U.S.A.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (d) U.S.A.
- Gasohol is a blend of 90% regular gasoline and 10% ethanol.
- Gasoline is made from petroleum.
- The United States is currently the top producer and user of gasohol.
|
16. In the context of global oil prices, ‘Brent crude oil’ is frequently referred to in the news. What does this term imply?
1. It is a major classification of crude oil.
2. It is sourced from the North Sea.
3. It does not contain sulphur.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (b) 1 and 2
- Brent Crude is a type of oil that is used to determine the price of oil around the world.
- It is called “light” because it is not very heavy and doesn’t have a lot of sulfur.
- It is taken from the North Sea and includes a mix of different crudes.
|
17. A commercial deal christened “Peace Pipeline” has been signed recently in the first half of 2009. Identify the pipeline from the following list :
(a) Russia to Europe
(b) Azerbaijan to Turkey
(c) Myanmar to China
(d) None of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (d) None of the above
- The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is sometimes called the “Peace Pipeline” or IP gas pipeline.
|
18. In which of the following countries mineral oil was commercially drilled in 1857?
(a) U.S.A.
(b) Venezuela
(c) Indonesia
(d) Romania
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013]
Ans. (d) Romania
- In 1857, Romania was the first country to be officially recorded as producing 275 tonnes of oil.
- That same year, the first oil well for commercial use was drilled in Romania.
|
19. Which crop group out of the following contains crop/crops that cannot be used for biofuel production?
(a) Sugarcane, Corn, Mustards
(b) Jatropha, Sugarcane, Palm
(c) Lentil, Sugarbeet, Wheat
(d) Soybean, Corn Rapeseed
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) Lentil, Sugarbeet, Wheat
- Lentils, Sugarbeets, and Wheat cannot be used to make biofuel.
- Biofuel is a fuel made from plants and animal waste, instead of petroleum.
- Sugarcane, Corn, Soybean, Rapeseed, and Jatropha can all be used to create biofuel, which is an affordable alternative to gasoline.
|
IX. The Uranium
1. The leading producer of Uranium in the world is –
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Kazakhstan
(d) India
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (c) Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan is currently the number one producer of Uranium in the world, with Australia and Namibia in 2nd and 3rd place.
- Before 2009, Canada was the top producer of Uranium.
|
2. Which one of the following is a prominent Uranium producer?
(a) U.S.A.
(b) Canada
(c) Germany
(d) Zambia
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009, I.A.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (b) Canada
- Right now, Kazakhstan is the top maker of Uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (2020).
- Australia and Namibia come after them in 2nd and 3rd place.
- Before 2009, Canada was the number one producer of Uranium.
|
3. Which of the following countries is the biggest producer of Atomic Minerals in the World?
(a) Russia
(b) China
(c) U.S.A.
(d) Canada
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (d) Canada
- Kazakhstan is the biggest producer of uranium in the world.
- In 2022, it produced 43% of the total uranium on Earth.
- Canada and Namibia are also important producers, contributing 15% and 11% respectively.
|
4. Which of the following is not among the major resources of Russia?
(a) Coal
(b) Iron-ore
(c) Diamonds
(d) Uranium
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (d) Uranium
- When the question was asked, option (d) was the right answer.
- Russia has a lot of iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, platinum, titanium, copper, tin, lead, tungsten, diamonds, phosphates, and gold.
- However, Russia is not one of the top 10 countries that produce uranium.
- But, according to World Nuclear Association data from 2020, Russia is one of the top 10 countries that produce Uranium.
|
5. The largest reserves of Uranium are found in –
(a) Canada
(b) Australia
(c) South Africa
(d) Brazil
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (b) Australia
- Australia has more uranium than any other country in the world, and the biggest reserve is located at the Olympic Dam Mine in South Australia.
|
6. The world’s largest reserve of Uranium is found in
(a) Australia
(b) Brazil
(c) Canada
(d) South Africa
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) Australia
- Australia holds the most Uranium reserves in the world (30%), and is the third biggest producer of it.
- Kazakhstan and Canada produce more Uranium than Australia.
|
7. Which one of the following countries is credited with the establishment of ‘Uranium City’?
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Russia
(d) U.S.A.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (b) Canada
- Uranium City is a town in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
- It is close to Lake Athabasca and is 230 meters high.
|
8. Radium is extracted from the mines of –
(a) Limestone
(b) Pitchblende
(c) Rutile
(d) Hematite
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (b) Pitchblende
- Radium is an element that has radioactivity and is represented by the symbol Ra.
- It is taken from Uranium ore, also known as Pitchblende
|
9. Which one of the following countries is known for very important uranium ore deposits?
(a) Canada
(b) China
(c) Pakistan
(d) Zaire
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (a) Canada
- Canada is well-known for its Uranium deposits.
|
Mineral: Miscellaneous
1. 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 the seafloor in international waters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (b) 2 and 3 only
- The United Nations’ International Seabed Authority has given permission to governments and private companies from countries such as India, Brazil, and Singapore to explore and mine in international waters.
- This was done in 2014. It is known that rare earth minerals are located on the ocean floor in these international waters, so both statements 2 and 3 are correct.
|
2. Postmasburg and its adjacent areas of South Africa a major producers of which of the following minerals?
(a) Uranium
(b) Bauxite
(c) Manganese
(d) Mica
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) Manganese
- Postmasburg and the surrounding areas of South Africa are big suppliers of Manganese.
|
3. Natural camphor is obtained from –
(a) high altitude rocks of Himalayan mountains
(b) foams of Angel Falls in Venezuela
(c) a tree native to China and Japan
(d) sediments of tides of the sea near Andaman
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (c) a tree native to China and Japan
- Natural Camphor is obtained from different places :
- Cinnamomum Camphora is a tree that grows naturally in China and Japan, and it is where camphor is taken from.
- Camphor from the Blumea plant, which belongs to the Compositae family, is found in India.
- The type of camphor found in Borneo and Sumatra comes from the Dryobalanops plant.
|
4. Which group of minerals represents non-ferrous metals?
(a) Nickel, Zinc, Copper, Aluminium
(b) Nickel, Aluminium, Iron ore, Zinc
(c) Copper, Pig iron, Nickel, Steel
(d) Nickel, Carbon Steel, Aluminium, Zinc
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) Nickel, Zinc, Copper, Aluminium
- Non-ferrous metals are minerals without much iron inside them.
- Examples include aluminium, copper, zinc, tin, titanium, lead, nickel, gold, silver, cobalt, gallium, beryllium, cerium, tungsten, mercury, platinum, zirconium, cadmium, and germanium.
|
5. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List-I List-II
(Minerals) (Producing Region)
A. Coal 1. Highveld
B. Gold 2. Karaganda Basin
C. Iron Ore 3. San Joaquin Valley
D. Mineral Oil 4. Krivoi Rog
Code :
A B C D
(a) 2 3 1 4
(b) 2 1 4 3
(c) 3 2 4 1
(d) 4 1 2 3
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (b) 2 1 4 3
- The correct match of the given lists is as follows :
| (Minerals) |
(Producer Region) |
| Coal |
Karaganda Basin |
| Gold |
Highveld |
| Iron Ore |
Krivoi Rog |
| Mineral Oil |
San Joaquin Valley |
|
6. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
List-I (Minerals) List-II (Major producer)
A. Minerals Oil 1. Zambia
B. Copper 2. Guyana
C. Manganese 3. Venezuela
D. Bauxite 4. Gabon
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 3 1 2 4
(c) 1 3 2 4
(d) 1 3 4 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2000]
Ans. (a) 3 1 4 2
- The correct match is as follows :
| (Minerals) |
(Major producer) |
| Minerals Oil |
Venezuela |
| Copper |
Zambia |
| Manganese |
Gabon |
| Bauxite |
Guyana |
- Thus, (a) is the correct answer.
|
7. Which one of the following is not correctly matched?
(a) Donbas Basin – Coal
(b) Mesabi Range – Copper
(c) Mosul – Petroleum
(d) Transvaal – Gold
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (b) Mesabi Range – Copper
- The correct match is as follows :
| (Region) |
(Minerals) |
| Donbas Basin |
Coal |
| Mesabi Range |
Iron ore |
| Mosul |
Mineral oil |
| Transvaal |
Gold |
- Note : The Mesabi Range is famous for its iron ore, while the other ranges are known for their respective minerals.
|
8. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List-I List-II
A. Iron ore 1. Port Radium
B. Petroleum 2. Bingham
C. Copper 3. Baku
D. Uranium 4. Mesabi
Code :
A B C D
(a) 4 3 2 1
(b) 3 4 1 2
(c) 1 2 3 4
(d) 1 3 2 1
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]
Ans. (a) 4 3 2 1
- Port Radium is situated on the East side of Great Bear Lake in Canada and is well-known around the world for its Uranium mines.
- Bingham Mine, located south-west of Salt Lake City, Utah is renowned for Copper production.
- Baku in Azerbaijan is the largest and most famous city in the country due to its oil production.
- The Mesabi Range is one of the six main Iron ore areas around Lake Superior in the US.
|
9. What is Baku famous for?
(a) Iron Industry
(b) Aircraft Industry
(c) Ship-building Industry
(d) Petroleum
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (d) Petroleum
- Port Radium in Canada is located east of Great Bear Lake and is known for its uranium.
- The Bingham Mine in the southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah in the US produces copper.
- Baku in Azerbaijan is the largest city and the capital of the country, and it is known for its oil production.
- The Mesabi Range is one of the six main places containing iron ore in the Superior Lake region in the US.
|
10. ‘Mesabi Range’ at the international level is known for producing –
(a) Copper
(b) Gold
(c) Iron ore
(d) Uranium
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (c) Iron ore
- The Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota is famous for creating iron ore.
- It was the world’s biggest supplier of iron ore for more than 50 years and supplied almost half of all the iron ore in the world after World War II.
|
11. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched:
Mineral Producer
(a) Copper Arizona
(b) Coal Karatzas
(c) Iron ore Rasatura
(d) Petroleum Donbas
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (a) Copper Arizona
- Arizona in the USA is known for having copper.
- The other places listed do not fit together.
|
12. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) Kimberley – Diamond
(b) Witwatersrand – Gold
(c) Katanga – Copper
(d) Saar – Iron Ore
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (d) Saar – Iron Ore
- The correct match of minerals and their producers is as follows
| (Region) |
(Mineral) |
| Kimberley |
Diamond |
| Witwatersrand |
Gold |
| Katanga |
Copper |
| Saar |
Coal |
|
13. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists :
List-I List-II
(Minerals) (Important centres)
A. Copper 1. Butte
B. Diamond 2. Katanga
C. Gold 3. Kimberley
D. Silver 4. Witwatersrand
Code :
A B C D
(a) 2 4 3 1
(b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 1 3 2 4
(d) 3 1 4 2
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (b) 2 3 4 1
- The correct match of minerals and their producers is as follows:
| (Minerals) |
(Important centres) |
| Copper |
Katanga |
| Diamond |
Kimberley |
| Gold |
Witwatersrand |
| Silver |
Butte |
|
14. Recently, according to a news mineral reserves worth $1 trillion are found in Afghanistan. Mark that mineral which is compared with the discovery of an oil field in Iran.
(a) Gold
(b) Lithium
(c) Cobalt
(d) Iron
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl.) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Lithium
- Finding Lithium in Afghanistan was thought to be as important as finding an oil field in Iran.
|
15. The leading producer of Titanium in the world is
(a) India
(b) Japan
(c) Russia
(d) U.S.A.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (c) Russia
- When the question was asked, Russia was the biggest maker of Titanium.
- Now, according to 2021 data from Mineral Commodity Summaries, China is the biggest producer of Titanium mineral concentrates.
|
16. The biggest producer of Bauxite in the world is –
(a) Australia
(b) Brazil
(c) China
(d) India
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) Australia
- The data from Indian Mineral Year Book-2012 and Mineral Commodity Summaries 2021 both show that Australia is the biggest producer of Bauxite.
|
17. The mineral which has earned fame in Chile is
(a) Gold
(b) Manganese
(c) Nitrate
(d) Mineral oil
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2010]
Ans. (c) Nitrate
- Nitrate is found in high quantities in Chile and Peru, especially in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, which has the biggest supply.
|
18. Which one of the following is not correctly matched?
(a) Bolivia – Tin
(b) Brazil – Iron one
(c) Mexico – Silver
(d) Peru – Nitrate
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2013, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (*)
- The Indian Bureau of Mines 2020 report showed that Bolivia is the fifth biggest producer of tin.
- Brazil has the second largest reserves of iron ore.
- Mexico is the leader in silver production.
- Peru and Chile both have a large part of the global salt production.
|
19. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) Aluminium – Bauxite
(b) Copper – Cinnabar
(c) Zinc – Calamine
(d) Iron – Haematite
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (b) Copper – Cinnabar
- Aluminium – Bauxite
- Copper – Cuprite
- Zinc – Calamine
- Iron – Haematite
- Cinnabar is the main source of obtaining mercury in its pure form.
|
20. Which one of the following is not correctly matched?
(a) Bolivia – Tin
(b) Brazil – Iron ore
(c) Mexico – Silver
(d) Peru – Nitrate
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (*)
- All the choices are correct.
|
21. Match the List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below :
List-I List-II
(Mineral) (Country)
A. Silver 1. Chile
B. Mica 2. Russian Federation
C. Iron Ore 3. Mexico
D. Copper 4. India
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 4 2 1
(b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 3 2 1 4
(d) 3 1 4 2
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (a) 3 4 2 1
| Minerals |
Country |
| Silver |
Mexico |
| Mica |
India |
| Iron Ore |
Russian Federation |
| Copper |
Chile |
|
22. Which of the following countries is the leading producer of iodine in the world?
(a) Japan
(b) U.S.A.
(c) Chile
(d) China
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) Chile
- Chile is the biggest maker of Iodine in the world.
- It is taken from Caliche Ore or salty water.
|
23. 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 its exports.
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 statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) 1 and 3
- Rare earth metals are a group of 17 elements found in the earth’s crust that are important for many modern technologies, such as consumer electronics, computers, networks, clean energy, etc.
- Most of the world’s rare earth metals come from China, which produced 95% of the total in 2010.
- China now has regulations on exports and is trying to stop smuggling.
- Because these metals are hard to get elsewhere, and their production causes serious environmental damage, most countries stopped producing them.
- India is an exception, as it has 3.1 million reserves of rare earth metals.
- Thus, choice (c) is the right answer.
|
24. Which of the following countries is the largest producer of diamonds?
(a) Australia
(b) Venezuela
(c) Russia
(d) Botswana
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2012, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) Russia
- The position of Diamond producing countries, according to mineral Year Book-2020, are as follows –
Country Production (in thousands of carats)
-
- Russia – 45271
- Botswana – 23278
- Canada – 18491
- DR Congo – 13470
- Australia – 12155
|
25. Commercial sources of energy purely consist of-
(a) Power, coal, oil, gas, hydro-electricity and uranium
(b) Coal, oil, firewood, vegetable waste and agricultural waste
(c) Power, coal, animal dung and firewood
(d) Coal, gas, oil and firewood
[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (a) Power, coal, oil, gas, hydro-electricity and uranium
- Business energy sources are made up of electricity, coal, oil, gas, hydroelectricity, and uranium.
|
26. The highest-producing Country in Africa is –
(a) South Africa
(b) Zambia
(c) Kenya
(d) Tanzania
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) Zambia
- Right now, the Indian Bureau of Mines says that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the biggest copper producer in Africa.
- When asked, the right answer was Zambia.
|
