The Chota Nagpur Plateau in eastern India is called the “Mineral Heart of India” because it contains the country’s richest concentration of minerals. It is an ancient continental plateau composed of Archean granite and gneiss rocks, housing massive deposits of coal, iron ore, mica, bauxite and manganese, fueling India’s primary industrial sectors. ANSWER: (B) Chota Nagpur Plateau
Share
Geographically, the Chota Nagpur Plateau occupies parts of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. It is a “mineral storehouse” due to its ancient geological history; its Gondwana rock formations contain nearly 80% of India’s coal reserves. Additionally, its Archean rocks are rich in metallic minerals. This plateau has dictated the industrial geography of India, as the proximity of coal and iron ore led to the establishment of major steel plants in Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Rourkela. Its rugged, dissected topography and forest cover also make it a region of significant ecological and tribal importance.