ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 59
(ix) Wollastonite (Rajasthan and Gujrat), Zicro (Beach Sands of Tamil Nadu Kerala and
Orissa),
(x) Quartz and other Silica Minerals are wide-spread and occur in almost all states.
(xi) The country has vast resources of building, dimension and ornamental stones such
as granite, marble and slate.
While Granite is chiefly mined in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and
Rajasthan, Marble is extensively mined in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujrat. Principally
Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Harayana produce slate.
MINERAL AND METAL PRODUCTION
Production of important minerals during 1997-98 to 2001-2002 (provisional is shown in
following table):
Note: Courtesy Research and Reference Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Govt. of India.
M. Tonnes–Million tonnes, ’000–Tonnes-Thousand tonnes, M.C.M.–Million Cubic Metre,
Kg.–Kilogram
- The figure excludes the production of fireclay, if any recovered incidental to coal mining.
(R) ‘R’ shows previous years figures repeated as current data have not been received
yet.
Note: (1) The value figures pertain to pithead value
(2) Data based on the return received under MCDR, 1998 except coal, lignite petroleum (Crude),
natural gas (utilised) and minor minerals:
(a) Coal and Lignite: Coal Controller, Kolkata
(b) Petroleum (Crude) and Natural Gas: Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, New Delhi.
(c) Minor Minerals: State Governments.Environment Problem Created by Extracting and Mining
The environment side effect of extracting and mining projects can be studied in three
categories as under:
(i) Effect within and around the area covered by the dam and reservoir.
(ii) Underground effects caused by emptying of area.
(iii) Regional effects in terms of overall aspects inclusive of resources use and socio-
economic aspects.
(iv) It has also been participating in India Expeditions to Antarctica right from the very
first expedition.
GSI with its headquarters at Calcutta functions six regions, three specialised wings and
a training institute. Each year GSI takes up about 1100 investigations in geological mapping,
mineral assessment, geotechnical and environment studies, air borne geo-physical surveys
as well as geological and geophysical surveys in bordering seas. Output of these efforts is
in the form of scientific and technical reports, professional papers, maps and inventories and