Atomic Minerals

Atomic energy can be produced by fission or fusion of the atoms or rather the nuclear parts of radioactive minerals like uranium, thorium and radium.

India possesses the world’s largest reserves of monazite, the principal source of thorium and some reserves of uranium.

Uranium

In India, uranium is embedded in the igneous and metamorphic rocks in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Himalaya. A substantial source of uranium deposits is also found in the monazite sands along the Kerala coasts.

The production of uranium at present is confined to the mines at Jaduguda in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The total reserves of uranium in the country are enough to support 5,000-10,000 MW of electricity generating capacity.

Thorium

Thorium is principally obtained from monazite. The beach sands of Kerala in Palghat and Quilon district contain the world’s richest monazite deposits. It also occurs on the sands of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Summary

• The production of Uranium is presently confined to the mines of Jaduguda in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
• India possesses the world’s largest monazite reserves, the principal source of thorium.
• The beach sand of Kerala in Palghat and Quilon districts contain world’s richest monazite deposits.
• In India Uranium is found in the igneous and metamorphic rocks in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Himalaya.