Minerals & Industries
Jharkhand GK · खनिज और उद्योग · 18 facts
Jharkhand holds the 2nd largest coal reserves in India; the Jharia coalfield in Dhanbad is India's oldest and largest coking coal reserve.
Jharkhand is a leading producer of iron ore; the Singhbhum Craton in eastern Jharkhand contains some of India's oldest and richest iron ore deposits.
Singhbhum district in Jharkhand is India's primary copper belt; the Mosabani and Ghatsila copper mines have been mined since the early 20th century.
Jharkhand is one of India's largest mica producing states; the Koderma-Giridih mica belt produces sheet mica used in electrical and electronics industries.
Jaduguda (Jadugora) in East Singhbhum is home to India's only operational uranium mining and processing facility, run by Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL).
Jharkhand has significant deposits of bauxite (for aluminum) in Lohardaga and Gumla districts; it is one of India's top bauxite-producing states.
Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, established in 1907 by Jamsetji Tata, was India's first steel plant; it is still one of India's largest steel producers.
Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), established in 1964 with Soviet assistance, is one of India's largest integrated steel plants and is operated by SAIL.
Jamshedpur, founded by Jamsetji Tata, is India's first planned industrial city and is called 'Steel City of India'; it is operated without a municipal corporation.
MECON (Metallurgical Engineering Consultants) is a public sector company headquartered in Ranchi, Jharkhand, specializing in metallurgical and engineering consultancy.
HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation) in Ranchi, established in 1958 with Soviet collaboration, manufactures heavy machinery for steel, mining, and defense sectors.
Jharkhand accounts for nearly 40% of India's total mineral output; it is called the 'Mineral Storehouse of India' due to its exceptional mineral wealth.
The Jharia coalfield has been burning underground for over 100 years due to spontaneous combustion; it is one of the world's worst environmental disasters.
Thermal power plants at Patratu, Tenughat, and Chandrapura use Jharkhand's abundant coal reserves to generate electricity for the eastern grid.
Jharkhand has significant manganese deposits in the Orissa-Jharkhand manganese belt; manganese is used in steel alloys and dry cell batteries.
CCIL (Central Coalfields Limited), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, is headquartered in Ranchi and manages coalmines in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand is also a significant producer of quartz, feldspar, kyanite, and fire clay, which are used in glass, ceramics, and refractories industries.
Adityapur Industrial Area near Jamshedpur is one of Jharkhand's major industrial zones with over 1,000 small and medium scale industries.