Question:

The most extensive, commercially useful source of thorium as monazite sand occurs in India at the:

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Recall India's classic monazite sand belt that supplies thorium for the nuclear programme.
Updated On: Jul 16, 2026
  • Orissa coast
  • Travancore coast
  • West Bengal coast
  • Gujarat coast
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Thorium is an important nuclear fuel material, and it is obtained mainly from the mineral monazite, a phosphate mineral rich in thorium and rare earth elements.
Step 2: In India, monazite bearing sand occurs at several places along the coastline, but the largest and most commercially exploited beach sand deposit historically lies along the Travancore coast of Kerala, the region of the old princely state of Travancore.
Step 3: Areas such as Chavara on this coast have been mined for decades for monazite, ilmenite and other heavy minerals, making this belt India's chief source of thorium bearing sand.
Step 4: Hence the correct answer is B) Travancore coast.
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