Q. Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following? (UPSC Prelims 2023)
Answer: Titanium
Notes: The correct answer is [D] Titanium. Ilmenite and rutile are the primary ore minerals used globally for the extraction of titanium and the production of titanium dioxide. Ilmenite (FeTiO3) and Rutile (TiO2) are "atomic minerals" found in abundance in the beach sands of India. Titanium is a strategic metal valued for its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, used extensively in aerospace, medical implants, and pigments. These minerals are part of the "heavy mineral sands" found along the coastal tracts of Kerala (Chavara), Tamil Nadu (Manavalakurichi), Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha (Chatrapur). They are often found alongside other minerals like monazite, zircon, and sillimanite.