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.