Question 201 markMCQSection B

Choose the appropriate option to fill in the blank :

[Flow chart: Minerals → Ferrous → Nickel ; Minerals → ? → Bauxite ; Minerals → Precious → Gold]

Flow chart diagram: 'Minerals' branches into three boxes - 'Ferrous' (leads to Nickel), '?' blank box (leads to Bauxite)
Fig. for Q20
Minerals and Energy Resources
Classification of Minerals

Options

(A)Energy Minerals
(B)Non-Metallic Minerals
(C)Non-Ferrous Minerals
(D)Precious Minerals

Official answer

Option C: Non-Ferrous Minerals — bauxite contains no iron and is the main ore of aluminium, so it belongs under the non-ferrous branch.

Answer keywords:ferrous mineralsnon-ferrous mineralsbauxitealuminium orenickelgoldclassification of minerals

Marking scheme

  1. 1.1 mark for selecting Option C: Non-Ferrous Minerals; no partial marks for MCQ.

Hint

Bauxite is the ore of aluminium — it is metallic but contains no iron, so it is classified as a Non-Ferrous mineral.

Quick oral answer

The blank should be filled with 'Non-Ferrous Minerals' because bauxite, the ore of aluminium, contains no iron and is classified as a non-ferrous metallic mineral.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Confusing 'non-ferrous' (metallic, no iron) with 'non-metallic' (like mica, coal) and wrongly classifying bauxite as non-metallic.
  2. 2.Forgetting that nickel is a ferrous mineral, not a non-ferrous one.

Analysis and explanation

Fills the blank in the minerals classification flow chart using the ferrous/non-ferrous/precious split.


Concept

  • Metallic minerals split into Ferrous, Non-Ferrous, and Precious categories.

Key points

  • Ferrous: contains iron — iron ore, manganese, chromite, nickel (~3/4 of India's metallic mineral value).
  • Non-Ferrous: no iron — copper, bauxite (aluminium ore), tin, lead.
  • Precious: gold, silver, platinum — valued for rarity.

Common mistakes

  • Placing bauxite under 'Non-Metallic Minerals' (mica, gypsum, coal) instead of 'Non-Ferrous' — bauxite is a metallic ore of aluminium, just iron-free, so it is non-ferrous, not non-metallic.

Interesting facts

India is one of the leading producers of bauxite in the world, with major deposits in Odisha, which alone accounts for over 50% of India's bauxite reserves.

Aluminium extracted from bauxite is prized in industry because it combines the strength of iron with extraordinary lightness and resistance to rust.

Question details

Q20 of 57 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
Social Science
Year
2026
Section
Section B
Marks
1
Type
MCQ
Chapter
Minerals and Energy Resources
Topic
Classification of Minerals
Bloom's level
remember
Syllabus topic
Unit 2: Contemporary India II — Minerals and Energy Resources: Classification of Minerals (Ferrous, Non-Ferrous, Non-Metallic, Energy)
Author
CBSE
Reviewed by
Padhantu Academic Team

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Frequently asked questions

Why is bauxite called a non-ferrous mineral?

Because it does not contain iron; it is the principal ore of aluminium, a metal, so it is classified as a metallic but non-ferrous mineral.

What are examples of non-ferrous minerals other than bauxite?

Copper, lead, zinc and tin are other common examples of non-ferrous minerals.