Q. With reference to Monazite, consider the following statements:
  1. Monazite is India’s most abundantly available Rare Earth mineral
  2. Monazite can be processed to extract nuclear fuels thorium and uranium
  3. Monazite is found along the coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra
Which among the above is / are correct statements?

Answer: Only 2
Notes:
  1. Monazite is India’s most abundantly available Rare Earth mineral: This statement is incorrect. Monazite is not India's most abundantly available Rare Earth mineral. While India does have significant deposits of monazite, it is not the most abundant rare earth mineral in the country. Bastnäsite is another important rare earth mineral found in India.
  2. Monazite can be processed to extract nuclear fuels thorium and uranium: This statement is correct. Monazite is a mineral that contains significant amounts of thorium and, to a lesser extent, uranium. It can be processed to extract these nuclear fuels. In fact, India has used monazite as a source of thorium, which is a key component in its nuclear energy program.
  3. Monazite is found along the coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra: This statement is also incorrect. Monazite is primarily found along the coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The beach sands along these coastal regions contain monazite deposits.

This question is part of UPSC Daily 20 MCQ Series Course on GKToday Android app.