Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?
- (a) Aluminium
- (b) Copper
- (c) Iron
- (d) Titanium ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Ilmenite (FeTiO3) and rutile (TiO2) are the principal ores of titanium, found in the beach placer sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh along with monazite, zircon and garnet.
• India holds among the world's largest ilmenite reserves; Indian Rare Earths Ltd and Kerala Minerals and Metals mine and process them into titanium dioxide pigment and titanium sponge.
• Titanium is used in aerospace, defence, medical implants and as a white pigment in paints.
• Aluminium comes from bauxite, copper from chalcopyrite and iron from haematite and magnetite — none from these sands.
• Hence option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Aluminium
- Aluminium is extracted from bauxite, not ilmenite or rutile.
- (b) Copper
- Copper ores are chalcopyrite and malachite, not these minerals.
- (c) Iron
- Ilmenite contains iron but is mined for titanium; iron ores are haematite and magnetite.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.