1.6. Atomic Minerals

Uranium and thorium are the main atomic minerals; Beryllium, Lithium and Zirconium are the other minerals. Uranium deposits occur in Singhbhum and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand, Gaya district of Bihar, and in the sedimentary rocks in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. But

the largest source of uranium comprise the monazite sands, both beach and alluvial. The largest concentration of monazite sand is on the Kerala coast. Some uranium is found in the copper mines of Udaipur in Rajasthan. India produces about 2% of world’s uranium reserves. Thorium is also derived from monazite which contains 10% thorium. Other mineral carrying thorium is thorianite. Kerala, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan are the main producers.