UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 21: World Distribution of Natural Resources (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 21: World Distribution of Natural Resources (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: Geography. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

Most metallic ores such as tin, copper, zinc and lead occur in:

Correct Answer: A [igneous and metamorphic rocks]

Explanation:

Metallic ores form in cracks, faults and joints of igneous and metamorphic rocks as veins and lodes.

2.  

Petroleum is usually found in:

Correct Answer: D [anticlines and faults in sedimentary rocks]

Explanation:

Oil and gas migrate through porous sedimentary rocks and are trapped under impermeable cap rock in anticlines and faults.

3.  

Bauxite is formed mainly by:

Correct Answer: D [weathering of rocks in tropical wet-and-dry climates]

Explanation:

Bauxite is a residual ore left when surface rocks decompose under intense weathering in hot, wet-and-dry tropical climates.

4.  

Pilbara, a major iron-ore region, is in:

Correct Answer: A [Australia]

Explanation:

Pilbara in Western Australia is one of the world's largest iron-ore regions, making Australia the leading iron-ore producer.

5.  

The world's largest producer of copper is:

Correct Answer: B [Chile]

Explanation:

Chile, with its large Atacama porphyry mines such as Escondida, is the world's largest copper producer.

6.  

The "lithium triangle" refers to parts of:

Correct Answer: B [Chile, Argentina and Bolivia]

Explanation:

The lithium triangle is the brine-rich salt-flat region shared by Chile (Atacama), Argentina and Bolivia (Uyuni).

7.  

Bayan Obo in China is known for:

Correct Answer: D [rare earth elements]

Explanation:

Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia is the world's largest rare-earth deposit and the core of China's rare-earth output.

8.  

Most of India's coal reserves are of:

Correct Answer: A [Gondwana age]

Explanation:

About 98 per cent of India's coal reserves lie in Gondwana-age rocks of the Damodar, Son, Mahanadi and Godavari valleys.

9.  

Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?

Correct Answer: C [Petroleum]

Explanation:

Petroleum formed over millions of years from buried organic matter and cannot be replenished on a human time scale.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Indonesia is a leading producer of nickel.
2. Guinea is known for bauxite.
3. Kazakhstan is known for diamonds.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Indonesia leads world nickel output and Guinea is a top bauxite producer, but Kazakhstan is known for uranium, not diamonds.

11.  

Assertion (A): Old shield areas are rich in metallic minerals and diamonds.

Reason (R): Shields are made largely of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Shields are ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks, the very rocks in which metallic ores and diamond-bearing pipes occur.

12.  

The largest producer of uranium in recent years is:

Correct Answer: B [Kazakhstan]

Explanation:

Kazakhstan, mainly by in-situ leaching, has been the world's largest uranium producer for well over a decade.

13.  

Kiruna, an iron-ore mining town, is in:

Correct Answer: A [Sweden]

Explanation:

Kiruna in Swedish Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle, has one of the world's largest underground iron-ore mines.

14.  

Gold, tin and monazite concentrated in river and beach sands are examples of:

Correct Answer: B [placer deposits]

Explanation:

Placers are heavy minerals concentrated by running water or waves in river and beach sands.

15.  

KABIL was set up to:

Correct Answer: B [acquire overseas critical-mineral assets]

Explanation:

KABIL, a NALCO–HCL–MECL joint venture set up in 2019, acquires overseas critical-mineral assets, such as lithium blocks in Argentina.

16.  

Witwatersrand is famous for:

Correct Answer: C [gold]

Explanation:

The Witwatersrand basin around Johannesburg has yielded more gold than any other goldfield in history.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. "The Limits to Growth" published
2. OPEC founded
3. National Critical Mineral Mission launched
4. KABIL set up

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-1-4-3]

Explanation:

1960, 1972, 2019, 2025.

18.  

Which of the following is a battery mineral?

Correct Answer: D [Cobalt]

Explanation:

Cobalt is used in lithium-ion battery cathodes, which is why it is called a battery mineral.

19.  

The Damodar valley is important for:

Correct Answer: D [coal]

Explanation:

The Damodar valley in Jharkhand and West Bengal holds India's leading Gondwana coalfields such as Jharia and Raniganj.

20.  

Neyveli is known for:

Correct Answer: C [lignite]

Explanation:

Neyveli in Cuddalore district holds India's major lignite deposits, mined by NLC India Ltd for power generation.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2025

Consider the following pairs:

Country : Resource-rich in

I. Botswana : Diamond

II. Chile : Lithium

III. Indonesia : Nickel

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Correct Answer: C [All the three]

Explanation:

diamonds dominate Botswana's exports, Chile has very large lithium reserves and Indonesia is the largest nickel producer.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2023

About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by

Correct Answer: C [the Democratic Republic of the Congo]

Explanation:

the DRC's Copperbelt (Katanga) produces most of the world's cobalt.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U08 · Physical Geography (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-physical-geography

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