Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?

Answer: (d) Titanium

Ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and rutile (TiO₂) are India’s two titanium minerals, in the beach sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

The idea

An ore is a mineral deposit from which a useful material can be extracted economically. A mineral may contain several elements, but its main commercial use decides the ore label. Coastal waves concentrate dense, resistant grains into heavy-mineral sands.

Rock weathers inland → Rivers carry mineral grains → Grains reach the coast → Waves sort the sand → Dense grains accumulate → Minerals are separated for different uses

Why the others are wrong

(a) Aluminium comes from bauxite (Odisha’s Koraput, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh).

(b) Copper comes from chalcopyrite (Khetri, Malanjkhand).

(c) Ilmenite is FeTiO₃, so it does contain iron — but it is mined for its titanium.

The trap

Ilmenite’s formula has Fe in it, so “iron” tempts. Ask what it is mined FOR: titanium dioxide pigment and titanium metal.

Also know

Monazite belongs to the same sand family and carries rare earths and thorium. Zircon supplies zirconium; garnet is used as an abrasive, and sillimanite in heat-resistant materials. Chavara in Kerala is a useful location anchor for this family.