General Awareness · Geography

Minerals and Ores

1,167 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

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.

Multiple choice

India leads the world in the production of

  1. copper

  2. mica

  3. manganese

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

India is the world's leading producer of mica, accounting for about 60% of global production. Mica is important for electrical and electronic industries. India also has significant production of coal and manganese but leads specifically in mica.

Multiple choice

'Black Gold' is

  1. Coal

  2. Petrol

  3. A precious stone

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

The term 'Black Gold' in economics and industry refers to coal, which has been called so due to its black color and immense economic value as an energy source. Coal powered the Industrial Revolution and remains a crucial energy resource. Petrol (petroleum) is called 'liquid gold' rather than black gold.

Multiple choice

Hematite is an ore of

  1. zinc

  2. silver

  3. aluminium

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

Hematite (Fe₂O₃) is one of the most important iron ores, containing up to 70% iron by weight. It's a reddish-brown to black mineral that has been used as a source of iron since ancient times. The name comes from the Greek word for blood, referring to the red color of its powdered form. Zinc, silver, and aluminum have their own distinct ores like sphalerite, argentite, and bauxite respectively.