CHAPTER 5: MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES

1. List out any 4 uses of minerals (1)

1. Towering buildings and ships are made from minerals

2. Railway lines are made of minerals

3. Tarmac (paving) are made of minerals

4. Implements and machinery too are made from minerals

2. Define the term Mineral (1)

Geologists define minerals as a homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure

3. Define the term rocks (1)

Rocks are combinations of homogeneous substances called minerals

4. Define the term Ore (1)

Minerals are usually found in Ores. The term ore is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements

5. Examine the occurrence or formation of different types of rocks (3/4)

1. Igneous and Metamorphic rocks:

a. In Igneous and Metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints

b. The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger ones are called lodes.

c. In most cases, they are formed when minerals in liquid or molten and gaseous forms are forced upward through cavities towards the earths surface

d. They cool and solidify as they rise

e. Examples are Tin, Copper, Zinc etc, which are obtained from lodes and veins.

2. Sedimentary rocks:

a. In sedimentary rocks, a number of minerals occur in beds or layers

b. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata.

c. Coal and some forms of Iron ore have been concentrated as a result of long periods under great heat and pressure

d. Another group of sedimentary minerals include gypsum, potash salt, etc. These are formed as a result of evaporation especially in arid regions

3. Decomposition:

a. Another mode of formation involves the decomposition of surface rocks, and the removal of soluble constituents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing ores.

b. Bauxite is formed this way

4. Placer deposits

a. Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills

b. These deposits are called placer deposits and generally contain minerals, which are not corroded by water

c. Gold, Silver, etc are most important among such minerals

5. Oceans

a. The ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, but most of these are too widely diffused to be of economic significance

b. However, common salt, magnesium and bromine are largely derived from ocean waters

c. The ocean beds, too, are rich in manganese nodules

6. Examine the distribution of minerals in our country (3/4)

1. Broadly speaking, peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many other non metallic minerals

2. Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula in Gujarat and Assam have most of the petroleum deposits

3. Rajasthan, with the rock systems of the peninsula, has reserves of many non ferrous minerals

4. The vast alluvial plains of north India are almost devoid of minerals of any significant importance

7. Why is there a variation in the distribution of minerals? (1)

These variations exist largely because of the differences in the geological structure, processes and time involved in the formation of minerals

8. What determines the viability of reserves? (1)

The concentration of mineral in the ore, the ease of extraction and closeness to the market play an important role in effecting the economic viability of a reserve

9. Distinguish between ferrous and non ferrous minerals (1)

Ferrous minerals

1. Those minerals that contain iron in them are called ferrous minerals.

2. E.g.: Iron ore and Manganese

Non Ferrous Minerals

1. Those minerals that do not contain iron in them are called non ferrous minerals

2. E.g.: Copper and Bauxite

10. Examine any 4 uses of iron ore (1)

Iron ore is used in

1. automobiles

2. construction purposes

3. industries

4. welding

11. Examine the different types of iron ore (3/4)

Iron ore is of two types: Magnetite and Hematite

a. Magnetite:

1. Magnetite is the finest iron ore with a very high content of Iron, upto 70%

2. It has excellent magnetic properties, especially valuable in the electrical industry

b. Hematite:

1. Hematite ore is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used

2. It has slightly lower iron content than magnetite (50-60%)

12. Examine the distribution of iron ore (1/4)

The major iron ore belts in India are

1. Orissa Jharkhand belt

a. In Orissa, high grade hematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts

b. In the adjoining Singbhum district of Jharkhand, hematite ore is mined in Gua and Noamundi

2. Durg- Bastar- Chandrapur belt

a. It lies in Chattisgarh and Maharashtra

b. Very high grade hematite is found in the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chattisgarh

c. The range of hills comprises of 14 deposits of super high grade hematite iron ore.

d. It has the best physical properties needed for steel making

3. Bellary- Chitradurga- Chikmanglur- Tumkur belt

a. This belt lies in Karnataka and has large reserves of iron ore.

b. The Kudremukh mines located in the western ghats of Karnataka are a 100% export unit

c. Kudremukh deposits are known to be one of the largest in the world

4. Maharashtra-Goa belt:

a. This belt includes the state of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

b. Though the ores are not of very high quality, yet they are efficiently exploited

c. Iron ore is exported through the Marmagao port

13. Examine any 4 uses of Manganese (1)

1. Manganese is used in the manufacturing of steel

2. It is used in manufacturing of ferro-manganese alloys

3. 10 kilograms of Manganese is required to manufacture one ton of steel

4. It is also used in manufacturing of bleaching powder, insecticides and paints

14. Examine the distribution of Manganese (1)

Orissa is the largest producer of Manganese ores in India. It accounted for one third of the countrys total production in 200115. Examine any 4 uses of Copper (1)

1. Copper is mainly used in electric cables

2. It is also used in Chemical industries

3. It is used to manufacture utensils

4. Copper is also used in the electronic industry

16. Examine the distribution of copper (1)

1. The Balaghat mines of Madhya Pradesh produce 52% of Indias copper

2. The Singbhum district of Jharkhand is also a leading producer of Copper

3. The Khetri mines in Rajasthan are also famous

17. Examine 4 uses of Bauxite (1)

Aluminium is used for

1. Manufacturing of utensils

2. making foil paper

3. production of automobiles

4. Manufacturing of airplanes

18. Examine the distribution of Bauxite (1)

1. Indias Bauxite deposits are mainly found in the Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni

2. Orissa is the largest Bauxite producing state in India with 45% of the countrys total production in 2000-2001

3. Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are the most important bauxite deposits in the state.

19. Examine any 4 properties of Mica (1)

1. It is made up of a series of plates or leaves, which splits easily into thin sheets.

2. Mica can be clear, black, green, red yellow or brown

3. It has excellent di-electric strength and low power loss factor

4. It has high insulating properties and offers resistance to high voltage which makes it one of the most indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries

20. Examine the distribution of Mica (1)

1. Mica deposits are found in the northern edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau

2. Koderma- Gaya- Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer

3. In Rajasthan, the major mica producing area is around Ajmer

4. Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh is also an important producer in the country

21. Examine any 2 uses of limestone (1)

1. It is the basic raw material for the cement industry

2. It is essential for smelting iron ore in the blast furnace

22. Examine different ways of conserving resources/ minerals (3)

1. A concerted effort has to be made in order to use our mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner

2. Improved technologies need to be constantly evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low cost

3. Recycling of metals, using scrap metals and other substitutes are steps in conserving our mineral resources for the future

23. Why are fossil fuels also called as fuel minerals? (1)

They are termed as fuel minerals because they help in the production of thermal energy which generates electricity and drives motors

24. Examine the different types of coal (3/4)

Coal is of four types

1. peat

2. lignite

3. bituminous

4. anthracite

A. Peat

1. Decaying plants in swamps produce peat.

2. it has low carbon and high moisture content

3. It has low heating capacity

B. Lignite

1. It is a low grade brown coal

2. It is soft, with high moisture content

3. The principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are used for generation of electricity

C. Bituminous

1. Coal that has been buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures form bituminous coal

2. It is the most popular coal in commercial use

3. Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces

D. Anthracite

1. Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal

2. It gives maximum heat and it has maximum carbon content

3. It gives out least amount of smoke

25. Distinguish between thermal and hydro electricity

Thermal electricity

1. This electricity is produced with the help of a variety of fossil fuels

2. The production of such electricity is not eco friendly as the process pollutes the environment

3. Such plants can be set up anywhere in the country

4. Example: Indra Prastha Power Station

Hydro Electricity

1. This is produced by making water fall from a great height which in turn rotates the turbines

2. The production of such electricity is eco friendly as it does not pollute the environment

3. This requires specific physical setting as it can only be set up in areas of high elevation, e.g. A mountain or a plateau

4. Example: Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)

26. Examine the distribution of coal (4)

1. The major reserves of Gondwana coal are located in the Damodar valley (West Bengal- Jharkhand)

2. Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro are important coalfields

3. The Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys also contain coal deposits

4. Tertiary coal occur in the north eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland

27. Examine any 4 use of Petroleum (1)

1. It provides fuel for heat and lighting.

2. It provides lubricants for machinery

3. It provides raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries

4. Petroleum refineries act as a nodal industry for synthetic textile, fertilizer and numerous chemical industries

28. Examine the geological occurrence of petroleum (3)

1. Most of the petroleum occurrences in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age

2. In regions of folding, anticlines or domes, it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold

3. The oil bearing layer is a porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may flow

29. Examine the distribution of petroleum (3)

1. About 63% of Indias petroleum production is from Mumbai high

2. About 18% is from Gujarat

3. About 16% is from Assam

30. Name some of the oil fields of Gujarat and Assam (1)

1. Ankeleshwar is the most important field of Gujarat

2. Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan are the important oil fields in the state

31. Why is natural gas considered environment friendly? (1)

Natural gas is considered an environment friendly fuel because of low carbon di oxide emissions and is therefore the fuel for the present century

32. Examine any 4 uses of Natural Gas (1)

1. It is used as a source of energy

2. It is used also as an industrial raw material in the petrochemical industry

3. It is used for domestic purposes like cooking and heating water

4. It is used as fuel in cars

33. Examine the distribution of natural gas (3)

1. Large reserves of natural gas have been discovered in the Krishna Godavari basin

2. Along the west coast, the reserves of Mumbai High and allied fields are supplemented by finds in the Gulf of Cambay

3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also important areas having large reserves of natural gas

34. Distinguish between conventional and non conventional resources (3/4)

CONVENTIONAL RESOURCESNON CONVENTIONAL RESOURCES

They are all those resources which have been fully utilized by manThey are all those resources which have not been fully utilized by man due to expensive technology

Such resources, once utilized are lost forever, so they are non renewable in natureSuch resources can be used again and again, so they are also called renewable resources

The uses of such resources in most cases pollutes the environmentSuch resources mostly do not pollute the environment

Example: Most of the fossil fuels like Coal, Petroleum, etcExample: Biogas, Solar energy, wind power, etc

35. How can we say that India is well suited for solar energy? (1)

1. It is observed that for about 8 months, India has cloudless days, and clouds mostly appear in monsoon season which allows unhindered passage to sunrays.

2. Along with this, the angle of incidence of the sun rays are more or less direct, which provides adequate heating capacity

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx