UPSC CSE Prelims 2006
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
The beach sands along the coast of Kerala, notably in districts such as Kollam and Alappuzha, are known for their significant heavy mineral deposits. These placer deposits are formed through the natural processes of weathering of rocks in the Western Ghats, followed by transportation and deposition along the coastline.
The primary minerals found in these sands include Ilmenite (a titanium-iron oxide, FeTiO₃), Zircon (a zirconium silicate, ZrSiO₄), and Sillimanite (an alumino-silicate, Al₂SiO₅). Ilmenite is crucial for titanium dioxide production, Zircon is a source of zirconium for ceramics and nuclear reactors, and Sillimanite is utilized in refractory materials.
Tungsten, however, is not found in beach sands. Its occurrence is typically associated with hard rock deposits, such as quartz veins within granitic intrusions, rather than coastal placer formations.
Option (a) is incorrect because Tungsten is not a constituent of Kerala's beach sands. It occurs in hard rock deposits.
Option (c) is incorrect as it omits Ilmenite and Zircon, which are significant heavy minerals found in these coastal deposits.
Option (d) is incorrect because Sillimanite is also a prominent heavy mineral present in the beach sands of Kerala.