Give an account of the distribution of mica in India.
Mica is an important non-metallic mineral in India, primarily produced in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan. These states are followed by Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh in production.
In Jharkhand, high-quality mica is found in a belt extending about 150 km in length and 22 km in width in the lower Hazaribagh plateau. The Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh produces the best quality mica. In Rajasthan, the mica belt extends for about 320 km from Jaipur to Bhilwara and around Udaipur.
Other significant occurrences of mica deposits are found in Mysuru and Hasan districts of Karnataka; Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, and Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu; Alleppey in Kerala; Ratnagiri in Maharashtra; and Purulia and Bankura in West Bengal.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the 'Mica' section under 'Non-metallic Minerals' in the provided text. It lists the major producing states first, then details the specific belts in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan which are known for specific qualities or lengths of deposits. Finally, it lists the other specific districts mentioned in the text for a comprehensive distribution account.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the major mica-producing states from the text (Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan).
Step 2: Extract specific details about the mica belts in the top producing states (Hazaribagh plateau in Jharkhand, Nellore in AP, Jaipur-Bhilwara belt in Rajasthan).
Step 3: List the other specific locations mentioned in the text (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal districts).