Q20
1 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.

ferrous mineralsnon-ferrous mineralsbauxitealuminium orenickelgoldclassification of minerals

Marking Scheme

  • 11 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.

Analysis & 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.

Common Mistakes

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

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.

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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.