⛏️ MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES (WORLD) World Geography · Ch 24

BPSC / BSSC — World Geography Mind Map Series

⛏️ Mineral Resources — Metallic Minerals

Ferrous Minerals / Metal Ores

  • Iron Ore (Magnetite, Hematite, Limonite, Siderite)
  • Manganese (Psilomelane and Pyrolusite)
  • Nickel (Pentlandite)
  • Tungsten (Wolframite)
  • Chromium (Chromite)
  • Cobalt
  • Vanadium, etc.

Non-Ferrous Metals / Minerals

  • Copper (Cuprite, Pyrite, Malachite, Chalcopyrite)
  • Aluminium (Bauxite)
  • Tin (Cassiterite, Placer deposits)
  • Mica (Pegmatite)
  • Lead (Galena)
  • Zinc (Zinc Blende / Zinc Sulphide, Calamine)
  • Cadmium, etc.

Precious Metals

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Platinum, etc.
⚡ Quick Recall
Ferrous minerals contain Iron (used in steel-making); Non-Ferrous minerals do NOT contain Iron — Bauxite, Galena, and Chalcopyrite all fall in the "no-iron" category.
🧂 Non-Metallic Minerals
  • Nitrate
  • Phosphate
  • Potash
  • Sulphur, etc.
⚡ Quick Recall
Non-metallic minerals are mostly used as fertilizers/chemicals (Nitrate, Phosphate, Potash), unlike metallic minerals which go into industry and construction.
🌍 World's Top Mineral Producing Countries
MineralTop Producing Countries
Iron OreAustralia, Brazil, China, India
CopperChile, Peru, Congo, China
TinChina, Indonesia, Myanmar
ZincChina, Peru, Australia
LeadChina, Australia, USA
ManganeseSouth Africa, Gabon, USA
AluminiumChina, India, Russia, Canada
AsbestosRussia, Kazakhstan, China
MicaChina, Finland, USA, Canada
AluminaChina, USA, Australia, Brazil
BauxiteChina, USA, Australia, Brazil
GoldChina, Russia, Australia, Canada
SilverMexico, China, Peru
DiamondRussia, Botswana, Canada
Cement (manufactured, not raw mineral)China, India, Vietnam
📌 Extensive copper reserves Atacama Desert (South America)
📌 Most abundant mineral on Earth Bridgmanite
⚠ Exam Trap
Bridgmanite (found deep in Earth's mantle) is the most abundant mineral by mass in the whole Earth — not a commonly mined surface mineral, so don't confuse it with commercially "top produced" minerals.
🔥 Conventional Energy Sources (Non-Renewable) — Fossil Fuels
SourceKey Details
CoalTypes (best to lowest grade): Anthracite, Bituminous, Lignite/Brown Coal, Peat • Top producers: China, India, Indonesia, Australia • Largest reserves: USA
Mineral Oil (Petroleum)Products: Diesel, Petrol, Kerosene Oil, etc. • Top producers: USA, Saudi Arabia, Russia
Natural GasObtained from petroleum deposits • Top producers: USA, Russia, Iran, China
⚠ Exam Trap
Top Coal producers (China, India, Indonesia, Australia) are different from the country with the largest coal reserves (USA) — production and reserves are two separate rankings.
♻️ Non-Conventional Energy Sources (Renewable)

Solar Energy

Bioenergy

Wind Energy

Hydroelectric Energy

Geothermal Energy

Tidal Energy

⚡ Quick Recall
Six renewable energy types to memorize: Solar, Bio, Wind, Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Tidal.
☢️ Uranium
  • Ores: Pitchblende, Uraninite
  • Sources: Monazite sand and Thoralite rocks
  • Top Producers: Kazakhstan, Canada, Namibia, Australia, Russia
☢️ Thorium
  • Ores: Monazite, Allanite
  • Largest Reserves: India (found in Monazite sand particles)
  • Top Producers: Australia, India, Brazil
🇮🇳 India — Renewable Energy Rankings
  • India ranks 4th in installed renewable energy capacity
  • India ranks 3rd in installed solar energy capacity (2025)
  • India ranks 4th in wind energy generation (2025)
  • Sources of nuclear energy: Uranium, Thorium
⚠ Exam Trap
India has the world's largest Thorium reserves but is NOT the top Thorium producer (Australia leads production) — reserves and production rank differently, just like with coal.
📝 Quick Reference — Key Facts
FactDetails
Most abundantly found mineral on EarthBridgmanite
Extensive copper reservesAtacama Desert (South America)
Best type of CoalAnthracite
Largest Coal reservesUSA
Top Coal producersChina, India, Indonesia
Top Petroleum producersUSA, Saudi Arabia, Russia
Uranium top producersKazakhstan, Canada, Namibia, Australia, Russia
Thorium largest reservesIndia (Sand particles / Monazite)
India's global rank – Renewable energy4th in installed capacity
India's global rank – Solar energy3rd in installed capacity (2025)
India's global rank – Wind energy4th in generation (2025)
⚡ Quick Recall
Anthracite = best/highest-grade coal (highest carbon content); Peat = lowest-grade, earliest stage of coal formation.
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