Which of the following minerals is found in large quantities in India and holds high economic importance?

Correct — C. The stem sets two tests: the mineral must be found in large quantities in India and carry economic weight. Iron ore passes both.

NCERT calls iron ore the backbone of industrial development and says India is rich in good-quality ore, both haematite and magnetite.

Copper, petroleum and tin fail the first test, because India imports much of what it uses → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Copper — Copper fails on quantity. NCERT's Class 10 geography calls India critically deficient in the reserve and production of copper.
• (b)
  Petroleum — Petroleum matters hugely to the economy, but India is not rich in it: most of the crude oil it refines is imported.
• (d)
  Tin — Tin fails on quantity too. India's tin resources are small, and the country imports most of the tin it uses.

NCERT groups India's iron ore into four belts: Odisha–Jharkhand, Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur, Ballari–Chitradurga–Chikkamagaluru–Tumakuru, and Maharashtra–Goa.

Magnetite is the finest ore, with up to 70 per cent iron. Haematite is the most used, with 50–60 per cent.

The economic weight comes from steel, which is made from iron ore.

Key facts

• NCERT: iron ore is the backbone of industrial development, and India is rich in good-quality iron ore.
• Magnetite is the finest iron ore, with up to 70 per cent iron. Haematite is the most used, with 50–60 per cent.
• India's four iron-ore belts (NCERT): Odisha–Jharkhand, Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur, Ballari–Chitradurga–Chikkamagaluru–Tumakuru, Maharashtra–Goa.
• NCERT: India is critically deficient in the reserve and production of copper.

Common traps

• Choosing petroleum because it is economically vital — the stem also demands that India find it in large quantities.
• Assuming copper is plentiful because India has copper mines — NCERT calls India critically deficient in it.

No directly related past PYQ was found.