Non-Ferrous Base-Metals Group Minerals

Abstract

INDIA is far behind to some of the advanced countries in respect of the production and consumption of base metals which are the true indicators of the industrial activity of any country. In fact no mineable reserves of some base metals like tin etc. are present. The chief base metal minerals in India where some mining and metallurgical activity is seen and being developed are confined to copper, lead, zinc and aluminium.The production of copper in India hardly meets internal demand. The same is the case with lead and zinc metals. It is only in recent years that concerted efforts are continued for exploration and exploitation of new copper, lead and zinc deposits in the country and setting up new copper and zinc smelters for smelting of the indigenous as well as imported concen-trates. But in the case of aluminium industry, it can be considered self-sufficient in respect of the bauxite rese-rves for meeting the requirements of expanding indigenous industry as well as for export market.