Mineral Resources

Mineral resources of Uttarakhand plays a significant role in the economy of Uttarakhand. Although, the mineral resources of Uttarakhand are not as varied as that of Bihar or Orissa; yet mineral resources at Uttarakhand largely contribute towards the economic well being of the state.

The Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is especially famous for housing a number of mineral resources in Uttarakhand. The northern division of the district consist entirely of medium to high grade metamorphic rocks, which also contains bands of volcanic rocks in some areas; the southern division contains sedimentary and low-grade metamorphic rocks, with bands of volcanic rocks in some regions.

Although much is not known about the geology of the first division of Chamoli, yet the mineral resources contain rocks such as quartzite, marble, and various types of schist and gneiss. The southern division contains rocks such as gneiss, limestone, phyllites, quartzite, sericite-biotite schist and slate.

Some of the important minerals that form a major part of the mineral resources of Uttarakhand are:

• Asbestos,
• Magnestic,
• Soapstone or Steatite,
• Copper,
• Iron,
• Graphite,
• Gold,
• Gypsum,
• Lead,
• Slate,
• Limestone,
• Building Stone,
• Sulfur, and
• Bitumen.

Beside these major mineral resources, some of the other mineral resources of Uttarakhand also play a major role in enhancing the economy of Uttarakhand. Some of those mineral resources are:

• Antimony,
• Arsenic,
• Lignite or Brown Marble,
• Mica,
• Silver, etc.

Thus, as it is evident, the mineral resources in Uttarakhand is found in abundant. In fact, it is through these mineral resources that Uttarakhand is striding forward in this competitive world.