1. Karnataka: Karnataka is the leading producer of iron ore accounting for about one-fourth of the total ironore production of the country. The high grade deposits belonging to the haematite and magnetite categories are found in Kemmangundi in Bababudan Hills of the Chikmagalur District. The other important iron ore producing districts of Karnataka are Chitradurga, Dharwar, North Kannad, Shimoga, Bellary and Tumkur.
(i) Bababudan Hills: Lying in Chikmagalur District of Karnataka they stretch over 22 km in length and 20 km in width. They are rich in haematite deposits with ferrous content of 60 to 65 per cent. The iron ore is mainly exported to Iran through the port of Mangalore.
Kudermukh Deposits: The Kudermukh iron ore deposits lie in the Chikmagalur District of Karnataka. They contain iron ore of the magnetite category with a metal content of 50 to 65 per cent. The Kudermukh deposits were developed under an export agreement with Iran. The iron ore is exported through the seaport of Mangalore.
Kudermukh Deposits: The Kudermukh iron ore deposits lie in the Chikmagalur District of Karnataka. They contain iron ore of the magnetite category with a metal content of 50 to 65 per cent. The Kudermukh deposits were developed under an export agreement with Iran. The iron ore is exported through the seaport of Mangalore.
(iii) Sandur Range: The Sandur Range stretches in the Bellary and Hosepet districts of Karnataka. The iron ore of this range is generally hard, compact and steel-grey. The ferrous content varies between 50-65 per cent. Its ore is supplied to the Vijayanagar Steel Plant.
2. Orissa: The contribution of Orissa in the total production of iron ore in the country is about 22 per cent. The most important deposits are found at Mayurbhanj (Badampahar), Banspani and Toda in Kendujhar (Keonjhar), Tomka Range in Cuttack, Kandadhar Pahar in Sundargarh, Sambalpur, and Hirapur Hills of Koraput district.
(i) Badampahar: Situated in the Mayurbhanj District of Orissa, Badam Pahar has rich deposits of iron ore. Its height is about 825 metres above sea level. It has 30 million tonnes of iron ore. Iron-ore from Badampahar is supplied to Bokaro, • Durgapur, Jamshedpur, and Raurkela.
(ii) Bonaigarh Range: Situated in the district of Sundergarh, it is one of the most important iron ore bearing ranges. Iron ore is of haematite category which is supplied to Bokaro, Durgapur, Jamshedpur, and Raurkela.
Mayurbhanj: Situated in Orissa, it is well known for the iron ore deposits of haematite type. The metal content is more than 65 per cent. Iron ore from Mayurbhanj mines is sent to the iron and steel plants of Bokaro, Durgapur, Jamshedpur, and Raurkela.
3. Chhattisgarh:. This state has about 20 per cent of the total iron ore deposits of the country. Bailadila in the Bastar District and Dalli-Rajhara in the Durg district are the main iron ore producing regions of Chhattisgarh state. The iron ore belongs to the haematite and magnetite categories in which the metal content varies between 60 to 70 per cent. The Bailadila mine is the largest mechanized mine in India. A 270-km long slurry pipeline has been constructed to bring the ore from Bailadila to Vishakhapatnam Plant. The Bailadila iron ore is largely exported to Japan through the port of Vishakhapatnam.
The Dalli Rajhara range is about 32 km long with iron ore reserves of about 125 million tonnes. The ferrous content is about 70 per cent. The deposits of this range are being worked by the Hindustan Steel Plant of Bhilai. Bilaspur, Jagdalpur, Raigarh, and Surguja are the other iron ore producing districts of Chhattisgarh State.
(i) Dalli Rajhara: The Dalli Rajhara Range, well known for the iron ore depsoits, lies in the Durg District of Chhattisgarh. It is 32 km long with an estimated iron ore deposit of 120 million tonnes. The iron ore is supplied to the Hindustan Steel Plant at Bhilai.
(ii) Bailadila: Situated in the Bastar District of the Chhattisgarh state, it is known for the rich deposits of iron ore of the haematite category. This iron ore was deposited during the Dharwar Period about 2500 to 1800 million years back. The ore is mostly exported to Japan through the seaport of Vishakhapatnam.
4. Goa: Goa is the fourth largest producer of iron ore in India. Goa produces about 18 per cent of the total iron ore of the country. The iron ore of north Goa is of superior quality. The main deposits and mining centres are at Pirna-Adolpale-Asnora, Sanquelim Onda, Kundem-Surla, and Sirigao-Bicholim-Dalda in north Goa. The nearby Marmagao seaport is a big advantage to these mines for the export of iron ore. The iron ore is exported mainly to Japan and Iran.
5. Jharkhand : Jharkhand has 25 per cent of the iron ore reserves and accounts for about 14 per cent of the total production of iron ore of the country. Iron ore mining was first of all started at Singhbhum in 1904. The main iron ore deposits lie in Bonai Ragne extending for about 50 km. The famous mines are Naomandi, Daltenganj (Palamu District). Iron ore is also mined at Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, and Santhal Pargana.
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