(a) महाराष्ट्रात, एकूण क्षेत्रफळापैकी फक्त 22% क्षेत्रात खनिजसंपत्ती आढळते. ह्याची ही दोनच मुख्य क्षेत्रे आहेत.
(b) पूर्व विदर्भात, गडचिरोली, भंडारा, चंद्रपूर व गोंदिया, तट कोंकण आणि दक्षिण महाराष्ट्रात, सिंधुदुर्ग, रत्नागिरी, रायगड व कोल्हापूर अशी क्षेत्रे आहेत.
पर्यायी उत्तरे :

The correct answer is Option C ((a) False (b) True).

Key Points:
• Mineral Distribution Geography of Maharashtra:
• Mineral Area Share (Statement a is FALSE):
• Mineral wealth in Maharashtra is concentrated in only about 12.33% (roughly 10% to 12.5%) of the state's total geographical area, NOT 22%. The remaining vast plateau (~85–90%) is covered by thick Deccan basalt traps devoid of major metallic mineral deposits.
• Geographic Belts (Statement b is TRUE):
• Minerals are strictly localized into two distinct geological clusters:
• 1. Eastern Vidarbha: Gadchiroli (iron ore), Bhandara (manganese, sillimanite), Gondia, Chandrapur, and Nagpur (coal, limestone, manganese).
• 2. South Konkan & South Maharashtra: Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Kolhapur (bauxite, iron ore, silica sand, chromite).
• Consequently, (a) is False and (b) is True.
• Dharwar and Archaean metamorphic rocks in Vidarbha host iron and manganese, while laterites in Konkan host bauxite.
• Key Takeaway: Minerals cover ~12.3% of Maharashtra (not 22%), clustered in Eastern Vidarbha and South Konkan/Kolhapur.