Minerals

           Several valuable minerals occur in many parts of the state. The beach sands in Kollam are rich in heavy minerals like Monozite, Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon and Silimanite. China clay or Kaolin, suitable for the manufacture of porcelain is found in many parts of the state. An inferior type of clay in many places and is being used for the manufacture of tiles and bricks. Deposits of graphite also occur in many parts of the state.

           Kerala has a wide range of minerals. It has the finest China clay in the country, about 80 million tonnes, which hold out possibilities for the manufacture of high tension insulators, sanitary wares, crockery and glazed tiles. Deposits of silica and quarts sad are estimated at around 75 million tonnes. Fire clay amount to about 12 million tonnes. There are 79 million tonnes of iron ores, 25 million tonnes of limestones, 11 million tonnes of bauxite, 35 million tonnes of ilmenite, three million tonnes of rutile, one million tonnes of monozite and 0.7 million tonnes of borophite. The tremendous industrial possibilities of most of these rare minerals have not yet been fully harnessed.

Total area covered by Mining lease

Minerals	Area (in Ha)
Clay	96.4168
Silica Sand	44.6522
Bauxite	1.3739
Graphite	0.5909
Limeshell	1786.3855
Limestone	247.5
Mineral sand	286.842
Quartz	6.0098
Total	2469.7711

Production and Sale of Mineral Sand in Kerala during 1999-2000

Name of Mineral	Production (Tonnes)	Sales Value (Rs.in lakh)
IImenite	136908.74	3786.42
Rutile	9201.00	2941.50
Zircon	14037.00	244.79
Sillimanite	9595.00	244.79
Lencorene	745.00	244.79
Zirflor	4920.00	942.09
Microzir 1 & 10	106.00	1.74
Total	175512.74	9828.85