The state of Karnataka is endowed with rich deposits of mineral wealth. The mineral resources are distributed quite uniformly across the state’s territory. Karnataka boasts of having one of the oldest Geological Survey Departments in the country that started functioning way back in 1880.
Mineral Belts in Karnataka
Karnataka falls under two well-defined mineral belts of India:
The Southern Belt: The Southern Belt mostly covers the Karnataka plateau and extends over the state of Tamil Nadu. This belt is rich in ferrous metals such as iron ore and manganese. Bauxite and limestone are also found. The Southern belt lacks in mica and copper deposits.
The South-Western Belt: The South-Western Belt stretches over Southern Karnataka and Goa. It has rich deposits of iron ore, garnet and clay.
Mineral resource diversity in Karnataka
Karnataka has more than with 40,000 sq. km of green stone belts abundant with a variety of mineral resources like gold, silver, copper, iron, kaolin, manganese, limestone, ochre, quartz, dolomite, chromite, silica sand, granite, and other useful rock formations.
The state is the sole producer of felsite and leading producer of gold, moulding sand, and fuchsite quartzite. Karnataka has two major centres for gold mining at Kolar and Raichur and together they produce about 3000 kg of gold every year. With 84 percent of India’s annual gold production coming from Karnataka, the state boasts of being the highest gold producer of the county. It has rich deposits of iron and manganese ores that measure to the tune of 1,000 million tonnes. Its granite rock deposits extend over 4200 sq. km and provide ornamental granites of splendid hues.
Mineral resource distribution in Karnataka
The following is the district-wise mineral resource distribution in Karnataka:
| District | Minerals Found |
|---|---|
| Bagalkot | Dolomite, Iron Ore (H), Limestone, Quartz/Silica sand, Granite |
| Bangalore | China clay, Felspar, Fireclay, Quartz/Silica sand, Corundum, Granite |
| Belgaum | Bauxite, China Clay, Dolomite, Felspar, Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand, Calcite, Fuller's earth |
| Bellary | China Clay, Iron Ore (H), Limestone, Manganese, Ochre, Steatite, Corundum, Granite |
| Bidar | China Clay, Ochre |
| Bijapur | Dolomite, Limestone, Calcite, Granite |
| Chikballapura | Bauxite |
| Chikmagalur | Bauxite, China Clay, Chromite, Pyroxenite, Iron Ore (H), Iron ore (M), Kyanite, Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand, Steatite, Asbestos, Copper |
| Chitradurga | Dolomite, Felspar, Fireclay, Gold, Iron Ore (H), Kyanite, Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand, Steatite, Barytes &Pyrite, Copper, Corundum, silver |
| Coorg | Kyanite, Magnesite, Corundum |
| Dakshin Kannada | Bauxite, China Clay, Iron ore (M), Kyanite, Limestone, Quartz/Silica sand |
| Devangere | Iron Ore (H), Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand |
| Dharwad | China Clay, Fireclay, Gold, Iron Ore (H), Quartz/Silica sand |
| Gadag | China Clay, Iron Ore (H), Limestone, Manganese, Tungsten |
| Gulbarga | Limestone, Quartz/Silica sand, Copper, Fuller's earth, Granite, Gypsum |
| Hassan | China Clay, Chromite, Pyroxenite, Felspar, Fireclay, Gold, Iron ore (M), Steatite, Asbestos, Copper, Corundum, Vanadium |
| Hassan | Limestone, Quartz/Silica sand, Granite, Titanium |
| Haveri | China Clay, Iron Ore (H), Quartz/Silica sand |
| Kolar | China Clay, Fireclay, Gold, Ochre, Quartz/Silica sand, Granite, Graphite, Tungsten |
| Koppal | Granite |
| Mandya | Kyanite, Magnesite, Quartz/Silica sand, Steatite, Asbestos, Corundum |
| Mysore | Chromite, Dolomite, Pyroxenite, Kyanite, Limestone, Magnesite, Quartz/Silica sand, Steatite, Asbestos, Calcite, Corundum, Graphite |
| Raichur | Felspar, Quartz/Silica sand, Steatite, Copper, Granite, Silver, Tungsten |
| Shimoga | China Clay, Fireclay, Gold, Iron Ore (H), Iron ore (M), Kyanite, Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand, Asbestos, Copper, Titanium, Vanadium |
| Tumkur | China Clay, Dolomite, Fireclay, Gold, Iron Ore (H), Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand, Steatite, Granite |
| Udupi | Bauxite, Limestone, Quartz/Silica sand |
| Uttar Kannada | Bauxite, China Clay, Dolomite, Iron Ore (H), Iron ore (M), Limestone, Manganese, Quartz/Silica sand, Copper, Granite, nickel, Titanium, Vanadium |
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