Question

Which state is the largest producer of Bauxite?
A. Haryana
B. Maharashtra
C. Odisha
D. Madhya Pradesh

Answer 1

Hint: Basically, Bauxite is an aluminum rock containing hydrated aluminium oxide as the main component and iron oxide, silica & titanium as minor components in differing amounts.

Complete answer:
As per the NMI database, based on the UNFC plan, reserves/resources of bauxite in the country have been estimated at 3,896 million tonnes. Such resources include reserves of 656 million tonnes and the remaining resources of 3,240 million tonnes. By grades, the metallurgical grade is around 77 per cent of capital. The resources of the grades Refractory and Chemical are small and constitute about 4% together.
Odisha alone accounts for 51 per cent of the country's bauxite resources by governments, Andhra Pradesh (16%), Gujarat (9%), Jharkhand (6%), Maharashtra (5%) and Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh are followed by (4 per cent each). In Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, large bauxite supplies are located in the East Coast bauxite deposits.
Bauxite consumption was estimated at 20.84 million tonnes in 2016-17, compared with 19.62 million tonnes in the previous year. The largest user of bauxite was the alumina/aluminium sector, accounting for 91 per cent of consumption in 2016-17, led by cement (7 per cent) and calcination (1 per cent).
The largest source of abrasive and refractory quality bauxite was Gujarat. In addition, Madhya Pradesh manufactures refractory-grade bauxite as well. For the most part, alumina plants draw supplies from their captive mines. Hindalco also buys bauxite from other sellers.
So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: Via the Bayer process, bauxite is mainly used to manufacture alumina. Normally, the aluminium industry uses bauxite containing at least 40% aluminium oxide. However, slightly lower grades of an acceptable mix are also used, depending on other properties, such as caustic solubility, the lack of soda and silica.