Mineral Resources of Madhya Pradesh

Study Notes

Mineral Resources of Madhya Pradesh

Copper:
- Found in igneous (metamorphic) Dharwar rocks.
- Key districts include Malanjkhand (Balaghat), Salimabad (Jabalpur), etc.
- Madhya Pradesh is India's leading copper producer.
- A significant copper ore layer (170m long, 20m wide) is in Malanjkhand, Behad tehsil.
- Malanjkhand is Asia's largest open-pit copper mine.
Rock Phosphate:
- Predominantly used in fertilizer production.
- Key districts include Jhabua, Sagar, Khargone, Chhatarpur, etc.
Limestone:
- Found in sedimentary Vindhyan Sill Group rocks.
- Key districts include Murwara, Kaimur, Gwalior, Panna, Jabalpur, Dhar, Dewas, Damoh, Morena, Neemuch, and others.
- Contains 40-50% lime content.
- Composed primarily of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃).
- Dolomite is a magnesium-rich limestone.
- Cement factories near Banmore (Morena) and Kaimur (Katni) have boosted production.
Coal:
- Found in Gondwana sedimentary rocks.
- Also known as "Black Diamond."
- Sohagpur Coal Field (Shahdol district) is the largest coal field in Madhya Pradesh.
- Singrauli Coal Field has a 136-meter-thick coal layer.
- Coal areas are categorized as the Central India Coal Area and Satpura Coal Area.
  - Central India Coal Area includes Umaria (smallest), Korar (Mandla), Johila River, and Sohagpur (largest).
  - Satpura Coal Area includes Mohapani (Narsinghpur-Chhindwara), Shahpur Tawa (Narmadapuram-Betul), and Kanhan and Pench Valley.
- Coal types include lignite (40-55% carbon), bituminous (60-80% carbon), anthracite (80-95% carbon), and peat coal.
Iron Ore:
- Found in Dharwar rocks.
- Key districts include Jabalpur, Vijayraghavgarh, Balaghat, Mandla, Vidisha, Ujjain, Jhabua, Dhar, etc.
- Iron ore from Madhya Pradesh is exported to countries like Germany and Japan.

Rivers of Madhya Pradesh

Mahi River:
- One of five west-flowing rivers in India (Mahi, Tapti, Sabarmati, Luni, Narmada).
- Originates in Vindhyachal hills, Dhar district.
- Flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, emptying into the Arabian Sea.
- Tributaries: Som, Anas, Panam.
Ken River:
- Flows through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (Bundelkhand).
Sonar River:
- Rain-fed river in Madhya Pradesh (Sagar and Damoh districts).
- Tributary of the Ken River (over 250 km long).
- Flows from Sagar south to northwest, joining the Ken in Panna.
Betwa River:
- 590 km long.
- Flows through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- Originates in the Vindhya Range, flows northeast, joining the Yamuna east of Hamirpur.

Soils of Madhya Pradesh

Black Soil (Regur Soil):
- Formed from weathering of volcanic basaltic rocks (Deccan Traps).
- Occupies 47.5% of Madhya Pradesh's land area.
- Found in the Malwa Plateau, Narmada-Son Valley, and Satpura-Maikal Ranges.
- Characteristics: black color, high iron and lime content, high in calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, and potassium, lacking nitrogen, humus, and phosphorus, basic nature (pH 7.5-8.5).
- Suitable for cotton, wheat, and soybean cultivation due to high water-holding capacity.
- Classified into Deep Black Soil (3.5% of area), Ordinary Black Soil (37% of area), and Shallow Black Soil (7.1% of area), based on depth and location.

Satpura and Vindhya Ranges

Satpura Range:
- Located between the Narmada and Tapti rivers.
- Divided into Eastern (Maikal Range), Central (Mahadev Range), and Western (Rajpipla Range) divisions.
- Highest point: Dhupgarh Peak (1350 m, Pachmarhi).
- Covers 34,000 sq km (11.02% of Madhya Pradesh).
- Major districts include Balaghat, Seoni, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Betul, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Barwani, Narmadapuram (parts).
- Geology includes Deccan Trap (west), Archaean rocks (central), and Dharwad rocks (east).
- Vegetation includes teak, sal, bamboo, tendu leaves.
- Climate: Summer (40–45°C), Winter (10–12°C), Rainfall (55 cm west to 150 cm east).
- Soils include black soil (west) and red-yellow soil (east).
- Crops include jowar, cotton, sugarcane, soybean, paddy, tubers.
- Minerals include limestone, copper, manganese, iron, bauxite, tin.
- Rivers include Tapti, Bainganga, Wardha.
Vindhyachal Range:
- Ancient mountain range, part of Central Highlands.
- Forms the northern boundary of Narmada-Son Valley, extending into Bihar.
- Divided into Vindhya Range, Bhander Range (Panna, Chhatarpur, Datia), and Kaimur Range (Jabalpur to Rohtas, Bihar).

Description

Explore the diverse mineral resources of Madhya Pradesh, focusing on key minerals such as copper, rock phosphate, limestone, and coal. Learn about their geographical distribution, significance in industries, and the state's contribution to India's mineral production.