Mineral wealth of Andhra Pradesh - a review on mineral based industries

Andhra Pradesh is endowed with a variety of minerals like coal, limestone, apatite, graphite, diamond, gold, chromite, asbestos, bauxite, barytes, mica, lead, feldspar, copper, iron ore, manganese, quartz, silica sand, shale, clays, steatite, vermiculite, laterite and fuller's earth, etc., apart from a number of minor minerals useful for construction purposes. The state having a 960 km long coastline, the second largest among the maritime states of India is enriched with enormous mineral resources. Natural gas and oil occurs in Krishna and Godavari basins. The state occupies a strategic position as the gateway to the South. The state occupies fifth position in mineral wealth and sixth position in mineral production in the country. The state accounts for about 4 percent of the total mineral (by value) of our country and also ranks first in producing varytes, mica, chrysotile, asbestos, vermiculite and fuchiste quartzite. The mineral production of Andhra Pradesh and its mineral based industries are mentioned in tables. The mining aspects of Andhra Pradesh is presented in another. Different ore dressing techniques were made on the minerals of Andhra Pradesh and the data is listed.