Which are the iron ore belts in India?

India is rich in iron ore resources, making it one of the top producers globally. The major iron ore belts in India are concentrated in specific geological regions, primarily located in the eastern and southern parts of the country. These belts contain high-grade hematite and magnetite ores that are essential for the iron and steel industry.

Major Iron Ore Belts in India

Here’s a table summarizing the key iron ore belts:

Iron Ore Belt	States Covered	Key Features	Major Mines / Regions
Odisha-Jharkhand Belt	Odisha, Jharkhand	Rich in high-grade hematite ores; largest in India	Barbil, Gua, Noamundi, Badampahar
Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur Belt	Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra	Hematite ores located in forested tribal regions	Bailadila, Dalli-Rajhara
Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumkur Belt	Karnataka	Magnetite and hematite ores; supports steel industries	Kudremukh, Hospet, Sandur
Maharashtra-Goa Belt	Maharashtra, Goa	Low-grade ores with significant export value	Ratnagiri, Bicholim, Codli

Overview of Each Belt

Odisha-Jharkhand Belt

• Largest contributor to India’s iron ore production.
• Hosts steel plants like Tata Steel and Rourkela Steel Plant.
• Mines are highly mechanized and export-oriented.

Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur Belt

• Bailadila range in Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) is world-famous.
• Ore here has high iron content (up to 68% Fe).
• Supplies ore to Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant via slurry pipeline.

Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumkur Belt

• Historically significant belt for steel-making in south India.
• Kudremukh was one of the largest magnetite reserves (now closed for mining).

Maharashtra-Goa Belt

• Ores here are low in iron content but easy to mine.
• Goa’s iron ore has traditionally been exported to Japan and China.

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