RAS question
Iron ore deposits in Karnataka are mainly found in which district?
Correct answer: (A) Bellary (Ballari).
Iron ore deposits in Karnataka are mainly concentrated in Bellary, now officially Ballari, district.
Explanation
Bellary, officially Ballari, is the right answer because the district is identified with Karnataka's major iron ore belt. The Sandur and Hospet areas within Bellary are major mining centres, and the Ballari district administration's economy page describes the district as rich in metallic minerals, including iron ore. It also says metallic minerals are abundant mainly in Sanduru, Hosapete and Ballari talukas, in that order of mining activity intensity, and notes that Ballari district has a large share of India's iron ore reserves. This is why, among the listed districts, Ballari is the district to associate with Karnataka's principal iron ore deposits.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Mysuru is not a major iron ore area in the Ballari district account; the mining belt is Sandur-Hospet-Ballari.
- (C) Mangaluru is described in the option rationale as a port city, while the iron ore mining areas named are inland Ballari, Sandur and Hospet.
- (D) Bengaluru Urban is an urban and IT-centred district, not one of the Ballari-region talukas listed for metallic mineral abundance or iron ore mining.
Concept
This tests the Indian geography theme of mineral resource distribution, especially the location of iron ore belts. RAS repeats such questions because industries, transport corridors and regional development in India are closely tied to mineral locations.