Microtheme: "World Geography: Minerals, Oil and other Natural Resources" —
8 questions asked in Prelims in the past.

1. [2025] Consider the following pairs:
   Country Resource-rich in
   I. Botswana Diamond
   II. Chile Lithium
   III. Indonesia Nickel
   In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
   • (a) Only one
   • (b) Only two
   • (c) All the three
   • (d) None
   Correct Answer: (C) All the three
2. [2024] Consider the following information:
   Region Name of the mountain range Type of mountain
   1. Central Asia Vosges Fold mountain
   2. Europe Alps Block mountain
   3. North America Appalachians Fold mountain
   4. South America Andes Fold mountain
   In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
   • (a) Only one
   • (b) Only two*
   • (c) Only three
   • (d) All four
   Correct Answer: (B) Only two*
3. [2023] About three-fourths of world’s cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by
   • (a) Argentina
   • (b) Botswana
   • (c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo
   • (d) Kazakhstan
   Correct Answer: (C) the Democratic Republic of the Congo
4. [2020] The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’ sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of
   • (a) Crude oil
   • (b) Bullion
   • (c) Rare earth elements
   • (d) Uranium
   Correct Answer: (A) Crude oil
5. [2019] Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate?
   1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.
   2. Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor.
   3. Methane in atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
6. [2011] In the context of global oil prices, “Brent crude oil” is frequently referred to in the news. What does this term imply? 1. It is a major classification of crude oil. 2. It is sourced from the North Sea. 3. It does not contain sulphur.
   • (a) 2 only
   • (b) 1 and 2 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
7. [2009] Which among the following has the world’s largest reserves of Uranium?
   • (a) Australia
   • (b) Canada
   • (c) Russian Federation
   • (d) USA
   Correct Answer: (A) Australia
8. [2004] Which one of the following is the correct decreasing sequence in terms of the value (in rupees) of the minerals produced in India in the year 2002-03?
   • (a) Metallic minerals—Fuel minerals—Non-metallic minerals
   • (b) Fuel minerals—Metallic minerals—Non-metallic minerals
   • (c) Metallic minerals—Non-metallic minerals—Fuel minerals
   • (d) Fuel minerals—Non-metallic minerals—Metallic minerals
   Correct Answer: (B) Fuel minerals—Metallic minerals—Non-metallic minerals