Question 28
1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
AOptions
BSolution
Statement 1: Monazite is indeed a primary source of rare earth elements (REEs), which are crucial for various high-tech industries.
Statement 2: Monazite is a radioactive mineral that contains significant amounts of thorium, a naturally occurring radioactive element. It is often a co-product of rare earth extraction.
Statement 3: While monazite sands are found along various parts of the Indian coastline, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, it does not occur naturally in the *entire* Indian coastal sands. Its presence is concentrated in certain stretches due to specific geological conditions.
Statement 4: In India, the mining, processing, and export of monazite, due to its thorium content (a prescribed substance under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962), are under the strict control of the Department of Atomic Energy. Therefore, only government bodies or their authorized entities are allowed to process or export monazite.
Based on this, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.
CStrategy
For questions on natural resources and minerals, it's important to understand their composition, uses, occurrence, and related government policies. Pay close attention to qualifiers like 'entire' or 'only' in statements, as these often indicate potential inaccuracies. Thoroughly cross-verify facts related to resource distribution and regulatory frameworks.
DSyllabus Analysis
This question pertains to Indian Geography, specifically mineral resources, and also touches upon Science & Technology (rare earths, nuclear materials) and Government Policies.
EQuestion Analysis
Medium to Difficult. Requires detailed knowledge about a specific mineral and related regulations, with a subtle trap in statement 3.