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A mineral is an aggregate of two or more than two elements. A mineral has a definite chemical composition, atomic structure and is formed by inorganic processes. In economic geography, the term mineral is used for any naturally occurring material that is mined and is of economic value.
Minerals generally occur in the earth’s crust in the form of ore. It is extracted, processed and utilised for the economic benefits of society. The availability and per capita consumption of minerals is taken as an important indicator to assess the economic development of a country.
India is fairly rich in mineral resources but their distribution is highly uneven. The distribution of minerals in India has been described in the following section: