RAS question
Silver ore in Rajasthan is found along with lead-zinc deposits at:
Correct answer: (A) Zawar (Udaipur).
In Rajasthan, silver ore is found with lead-zinc deposits at Zawar in Udaipur district.
Explanation
Zawar is the right mineral-location pairing because the Zawar feasibility report places the Zawar Group of Mines about 55 km by road south of Udaipur city and records Hindustan Zinc Limited's mining lease for lead-zinc, silver and associated minerals. This supports the exam fact that silver occurs with the lead-zinc deposits at Zawar. Hindustan Zinc Limited recovers silver as a by-product of zinc-lead smelting. For RAS, the key is to remember Zawar as a lead-zinc-silver association, not as a standalone silver field separated from Rajasthan's non-ferrous mineral belt.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Makrana is associated with marble, so it does not match the lead-zinc deposit setting in which this silver occurrence is being tested.
- (C) Degana is linked with tungsten, which makes it a different Rajasthan mineral anchor from the Zawar lead-zinc-silver association.
- (D) Khetri is a copper centre, so choosing it would confuse Rajasthan's copper belt with the Zawar lead-zinc deposits.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan mineral geography: matching mineral associations with their correct place anchors. It recurs in RAS because lead-zinc, copper, tungsten and marble centres are common map-based traps.