General Awareness · Geography

Minerals and Ores

1,185 Questions

Minerals and ores encompass the extraction, identification, and economic significance of naturally occurring crystalline substances. Topics cover specific ores like cinnabar and bauxite, alongside global mineral resource distribution. Candidates preparing for general awareness and geography sections should review these questions to master regional and global mineral reserves.

Ore identificationMineral extractionGlobal mineral reservesIndustrial minerals

Minerals and Ores Questions

Multiple choice

Rhine valley in France is known for mineral deposits of

  1. Bauxite

  2. copper

  3. Nickel

  4. Zinc
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Rhine valley in France (Alsace region) is known for bauxite deposits, which are the primary ore of aluminum. This region has significant bauxite reserves that have been mined historically.

Multiple choice

Which of the following minerals is used in nuclear reactors?

  1. Zircon

  2. Manganese ore

  3. Mica

  4. Bauxite
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Zircon (zirconium) is used in nuclear reactors because zirconium alloys have very low neutron absorption cross-sections, allowing neutrons to pass through and sustain the nuclear fission chain reaction. Zirconium cladding also provides excellent corrosion resistance in high-temperature reactor environments, making it ideal for fuel rod casing.

Multiple choice

Monazite is an ore of

  1. zirconium

  2. thorium

  3. titanium

  4. iron
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Monazite is a phosphate mineral that serves as the primary ore of thorium. It contains rare earth elements and is an important source of thorium for nuclear applications.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a set of only carbonate ores?

  1. Cassiterite, chromite and hematite

  2. Chalcopyrite, argentite and bornite

  3. Dolomite, magnesite and malachite

  4. Chromite, argentite and magnesite

  5. Hematite, bornite and malachite
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

All are carbonate ores.

Dolomite: CaMg(CO3)2 Magnesite: MgCO3 Malachite: Cu2CO3(OH)2

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a pair of lead ores?

  1. Cassiterite and galena

  2. Cerussite and cassiterite

  3. Cinnabar and galena

  4. Cerussite and galena

  5. Cerussite and cinnabar
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Both cerussite (PbCO3) and galena (PbS) are lead ores.

Multiple choice

Match the elements in group I with their respective ores in group II.

 
Group I Group II
P. Titanium 1. Kunzite
Q. Antimony 2. Orpiment
R. Arsenic 3. Sphene
S. Lithium 4. Stibnite

  1. P - 1, Q - 3, R - 4, S - 2

  2. P - 2, Q - 4, R - 1, S - 3

  3. P - 3, Q - 1, R - 2, S - 4

  4. P - 3, Q - 4, R - 2, S - 1

  5. P - 4, Q - 3, R - 2, S - 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sphene (CaTiSiO5) is an ore of titanium. Stibnite (Sb2S3) is an ore of antimony. Orpiment (As2S3) is an ore of arsenic. Kunzite (LiAlSi2O6) is an important ore of lithium.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a pair of silicate ores?

  1. Admontite and alunite

  2. Cattierite and cassiterite

  3. Spodumene and kaolinite

  4. Siderite and magnesite

  5. Gypsum and baryte
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Spodumene (LiAl(SiO3)2) and kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4) are silicate ores.

Multiple choice

Match the metals in group I with their ores in group II.

 
Group I Group II
P. Ca 1. Calaverite
Q. Co 2. Aragonite
R. Au 3. Scheelite
S. W 4. Linnaeite

  1. P - 1, Q - 2, R - 3, S - 4

  2. P - 2, Q - 4, R - 1, S - 3

  3. P - 2, Q - 3, R - 4, S - 1

  4. P - 2, Q - 1, R - 4, S - 3

  5. P - 4, Q - 2, R - 3, S - 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Aragonite (CaCO3) is a carbonate ore of calcium. Linnaeite (Co3S4) is a cobalt ore. Calaverite (gold telluride) is a metallic mineral with the chemical formula AuTe2, with approximately 3% of the gold replaced by silver. Scheelite (CaWO4) is a tungsten ore.

 

Multiple choice

Assertion (A): Chile continues to be an important producer of copper in the world. Reason (R): Chile is endowed with the world's largest deposit of porphyry copper.

  1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A.

  3. A is true, but R is false.

  4. A is false, but R is true.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Both assertion and reason are correct and the reason is the correct explanation of the given assertion. Chile is the largest copper producer in the world. 35% of the total global production comes from Chile and the major deposit is porphyry copper.