With reference to India, consider the following statements:

1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

The correct option is 1, 2 and 4 only.

Let us analyze each statement step-by-step to understand why this option is correct:

Statement 1 is correct: Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral containing rare-earth metals. It is one of the primary sources of rare earths (such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium) globally and in India.
Statement 2 is correct: Monazite contains thorium, a radioactive element. In India, it is a significant source of thorium, which is vital for the country's three-stage nuclear power program.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Monazite occurs naturally in the beach sands of coastal states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. However, it does not occur naturally in the entire coastal sand of India. Its distribution is localized and concentrated in specific stretches of coastal sand rather than being uniform across the entire coastline.
Statement 4 is correct: Due to the radioactive nature of thorium present in monazite, it is classified as a prescribed substance under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Consequently, only government bodies, such as Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), are authorized to mine, process, and export monazite. Private entities are restricted from processing or exporting it.

Since statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct, the correct option is "1, 2 and 4 only".