T HORIUM

IRON

IRON

Iron is a chemical element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is by mass the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. Symbol: Fe

Electron configuration: [Ar] 3d6 4s2 Melting point: 1,538 °C Atomic number: 26 Boiling point: 2,862 °C Atomic mass: 55.845 ± 0.002 u Chemical series: Metal, Transition metal, Period 4, Group 8 element, Heavy metal

SR.

NO.

STATEPRODUCTION

IN THOUSAND

TONES

PERCENTAGE OF ALL INDIA PRODUCTION

VALUE IN RS. CRORES

1. KARNATAKA 24,044 24.80 76,41,457

2. ORISSA 21,518 22.19 48,34,183

3. CHATTISGARH 19,358 19.97 66,45,564

4. GOA 17,502 18.05 49,48,395

5. JHARKHAND 13,684 14.11 29,74,943

6. OTHERS 856 0.88 59,937

ALL INDIA 96,962 100.00 2,71,04,479

DISTRIBUTION

It is worth mentioning that significant changes have taken place in the distribution pattern itself during the last few years. Earlier, Bihar (most of the iron producing areas has gone to Jharkhand now) was the largest producer which was excelled by Goa and Karnataka in quick succession. Goa occupied the first position among the major iron ore producing states for over a decade, but has been overtaken by Karnataka, Orissa and Chhattisgarh in due course of time.At present, over 99 per cent of India s iron ore is produced by just five states of Karnataka, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Jharkhand. This fact speaks volumes of high concentration of iron ore reserves and their lopsided distribution in the country.

EXTRACTION OF IRON

ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCEThe Role of Iron Industry in India is very important for the development of the country. In India the visionary Shri Jamshedji Tata set up the first Iron and Steel manufacturing unit called Tata Iron and Steel Company, at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. Iron and steel are among the most important components required for the infrastructure development in the country. The Iron Industry in India is one of the fastest growing sectors The demand drivers for the Indian Iron industry are increased in the activities of the automobiles industry, real estates industry, transportation system, aircraft industry, ship building industry, etc.

Reserves Of Iron In IndiaIndia is one of the richest sources of iron ore deposits in the world. Iron ore, which is also known as hematite, occurs in abundance in the country. Iron ore reserves account for almost two-third of the entire iron ore reserves in India. Interestingly, India holds a leading position in the list of leading iron ore reserve countries. Moreover, the iron ore reserves are easily accessible and also high grade. They are also good for smelting as they are free from impurities like phosphorous and sulphur. Iron ore is vastly distributed throughout the country but its huge deposits are concentrated only in a few selected districts.

Of the total iron ore reserves in the country, Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, Singhbhum in Jharkhand, Sundergarh and Kendujhar in Orissa, Bellary District, Shimoga and Goa accounts for a major portion. Further, in Bihar and Orissa, huge deposits of iron grade iron ore occur as huge masses that rise above the adjoining plains.. Singhbhum district in Bihar and the neighbouring districts of Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh and Keonjhar constitute the richest high grade iron reserves. In India, the chief mining centres are Sulaipat and Badampur in Mayurbhanj District in Orissa and Gua and Noamundi in Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. The iron ore from these mines is supplied to the iron and steel works located at Jamshedpur, Durgapur, Asansol and Raurkela. The Rajhara and Dhali Hills located south of Bhilai Steel Works are other major sources of iron ore with huge iron content.

RESERVES OF IRON ORE

The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

Tata Iron and Steel Company Ltd (TISCL) Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd.

(MECL) National Geophysical Research Institute

(NGRI) Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for

exploration and research JSW Steel Ltd

AGENCIES EXPLORING IRON

PROBLEMS RELATED TO IT’S EXPLOITATION

The environmental problems associated with the iron ore mining are diverse. The removal of vegetation, top soil, overburden/waste and ore, brings about the inevitable natural consequences, which manifest in many ways, deforestation, climatic change, erosion, air and water pollution and health hazards. Iron ore mining and processing of ore, affects the environment in myriad ways causing:− Land disturbance and change in land use

pattern− Affecting floral and faunal habitat− Disturbing the natural watershed and drainage

pattern− Disturbing the aquifer—lowering of the water

table− Air pollution due to dust and noxious fumes

Marketing And Production Strategies

IMPORT OF IRON BY INDIAIndia may become a net importer this year with steelmakers including JSW Steel buying as much as 15 million tons from abroad as local supplies dwindle.The country shipped 1.94 million tons in the quarter ended 30 June, down from 3.26 million tons a year earlier. India charges a 30% duty on iron ore for export, while railway freight on iron ore for export is 3.6 times the local levy, the FIMI said. Iron ore with 62% metal content for immediate delivery at the Tianjin port in China is down 29% this year at $95.30 a ton. JSW Steel, the nation’s third-largest producer, will import 6 million tons of iron ore, its first overseas purchase in bulk, as it isn’t able to procure enough in the local market. The company got a first shipment of 170,000 tons.

EXPORT OF IRON BY INDIA

THORIUM

Thorium is a chemical element with symbol Th and atomic number 90. A radioactive actinide metal, thorium is one of only three radioactive elements that still occurs in quantity in nature as a primordial element.

Symbol: ThElectron configuration: Rn 6d2 7s2Atomic number: 90Melting point: 1,755 °CDiscovered: 1828Boiling point: 4,787 °CAtomic mass: 232.03806 ± 0.00002 u

DISTRIBUTION OF THORIUM

ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCEThorium technology will bring immense and unique strategic value for India. Firstly, India has over 30% of world reserves of thorium. With indigenous technology ready by, say 2024 to exploit thorium, India can aim to be significantly independent of fossil fuels by 2047. Secondly, with thorium technology developed by India, and with its own fuel, India will be able to export a bundled package of "technology + fuel" to other developing countries.

RESERVES OF THORIUMIndia and Australia are believed to possess about 300,000 tonnes each; i.e., each has 25% of the world's thorium reserves. A government of India estimate, shared in the country's Parliament in August 2011, puts the recoverable reserve at 846,477 tonnes. The Indian Minister of State V. Narayanasamy stated that as of May 2013, the country's thorium reserves were 11.93 million tonnes ,with a significant majority found in the three eastern coastal states of Andhra PradeshTamil Nadu and Odisha. Andhra Pradesh (35%), Tamil Nadu & Odisha (15-20%), Kerala & West Bengal (10-15%) and Bihar (5%).

TerraPower (Bill Gates-chaired company)

A team at the University of Cambridge is exploring whether thorium could help to meet the new design's fuel needs.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)

AGENCIES EXPLORING IT

PROBLEM RELATED TO IT’S EXPLOITATION

In a once-through thorium fuel cycle the residual 233U is a long lived radioactive isotope in the waste.

Advocates for liquid core and molten salt reactors such as LFTR claim that these technologies negate thorium's disadvantages present in solid fueled reactors. Since only two liquid core fluoride salt reactors have been built (the ORNL ARE and MSRE) and neither used thorium, it is hard to validate the exact benefits.

EXPORT OF THORIUMThe report estimates that if the thorium extracted from the monazite is estimated at $100 per tonne, then the loss to the exchequer is approximately Rs 48 lakh crore, in addition to the incalculable  loss to the nuclear fuel programme. The US and Japan are actively looking to increase their production of thorium and thorium-based reactors, due to which India needs to safeguard its mineral resources by banning the export of minerals from which thorium can be extracted, in order to safeguard its nuclear fuel programme for the future.

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GUIDED By: AMISHA MAM (SOCIAL SCIENCE)

NAMES OF GROUP MEMBERS: PRIYANK SHAH (34) ROHAN BHAYANI (05) RAJ HINGU (13) KUNAL BHATT (04) PREET KAPOPARA (18) KHYATI VIRADIYA (40) RAJVI DESAI (08)

BY: PRIYANK SHAH