Minerals and Energy Resources Class 10 Social Science Notes and Questions

In sedimentary rocks , minerals occur in beds and layers.

In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints. The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger are called lodes.

Mineral  is a naturally  occurring  substance with a definite chemical and crystallographic structure.

The varied colours found in minerals are due to its chemical composition, and the parameters such as temperature, pressure, rate of cooling etc., present during its formation.

Iron ore is transported as slurry through pipelines.

Aluminium  metal  combines  the  properties of great strength, lightness, malleability   and conductivity

(c) Manganese

Cement Industry

Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

(a) It provides very high grade hematite  from the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

(b) The range of hills comprise of 14 deposits of super high-grade hematite iron ore. It has the best physical properties needed for steel making.

(c) Iron  ore  from  these  mines  is exported  to Japan and South Korea via Vishakhapatnam port.

Odisha-Jharkhand belt:

(a)   In Odisha high grade hematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts.

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

(c)   These mines feed the steel industry  in the eastern and other parts of India.

Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikmagaluru-Tumakuru belt in Karnataka has large reserves of iron ore.

(a)   The Kudremukh mines located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.

(b)  They are a 100 per cent export unit.

(c)   Kudremukh deposits are known to be one of the largest in the world. The ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangaluru.

Though, India is an important iron and steel producing country in the world yet, we are not able to perform to our full potential largely due to the following reasons: High costs and limited availability of coking coal and  poor  supportive infrastructure. Many of the steel plants have outdated technology.

We can greatly improve our performance by adapting the following measures:

(a)   Modernizing the technology and machinery.
(b)  Streamlining supply of inputs such as iron ore coke etc.
(c)   Having adequate buffer of electricity capacity. (d)  Streamlining customer demand and supplies.

Ferrous  minerals  in  India  account  for approximately  three-fourths   of  the  total  price of the production of metallic minerals. They provide a strong foundation for the expansion of metallurgical industries. India is also a leading exporter of ferrous minerals, magnetite, hematite are some of the common ferrous minerals. Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are the chief states where these minerals are found.

Mica is :

(i)   Excellent di-electric in strength and has low power loss factor.

(ii)  It has insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.

(iii) It is the most indispensable mineral used in electric and electronic industries.

Metallic Minerals:

(a)   Metallic minerals are those minerals which can be processed to obtain metals.

(b) Magnetite, hematite,   bauxite,   are some examples.

(c)   These are generally associated with igneous and metamorphic rocks.

(d)  They are  usually hard  and  have shines  or luster of their own.

Non-Metallic Minerals:

(a)   Non-metallic minerals are those which do not yield new products on melting.

(b)  Coal, salt, clay, marble are some examples.

(c) These  are  generally  associated  with sedimentary rocks.

(d)  They are not so hard and have no shine or luster of their own.

Minerals are important part of our lives.

(i)   Almost everything we use, from a tiny pin to built a towering building or a big ship, all are made from minerals.

(ii) The railway lines and  the roads, our implements and machine are all made from minerals.

(iii) Cars,    buses,    trains,     aeroplanes     are manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from minerals.

(iv) Even the food that we eat contains minerals.

(v)  In all stages of development, human  being have use minerals for their livelihood, decoration, festivities, religious and ceremonial rites.

The minerals which are used to obtain nuclear energy are Uranium, Thorium.

(i)   Narora nuclear power station.

(ii)  Kakrapara nuclear power station.

(iii) Tarapur nuclear power station.

(iv) Kaiga nuclear power station.

(vi) Rawat Bhata nuclear power station.

Following efforts have to be made to use minerals in a planned and sustainable manner :

(i)   Recycling of metals : We should recycle the metal or metal-made products to prevent its scarcity.
For example : Used steel blade should be sent for recycling, so that the steel can be used again for other purposes.

(ii)  Improved technologies need to be evolved : Traditional   technologies   should   be   replaced with new and improve technologies, so that the wastages can be minimised.

(iii) Use  of  substitute  or  alternative  resource  : The resources which cannot be recycled or reused should be replaced with the recyclable resources. e.g. Use of green gas instead of coal for cooking purpose.

(a) It creates pollution

(b)  By burning a manure resource is destroyed, which can improve soil fertility.

Gobar Gas Plant are beneficial to the farmers by two ways. It provides a clean fuel for domestic cooking and lighting. It also provides high quality manure.

Energy is a basic requirement  for economic development. The strategy of economic develop- ment that India adopted since independence required increasing amount of energy con- sumption.  As a  result,  consumption  of  energy in all forms has been rising. To take care of this concern various measures that need to be adopted are as follows.

(i)  We need to increase the use of renewable energy resources like solar, wind power, biogas, tidal energy and geothermal energy. This will decrease the dependence on non-renewable sources.

(ii)  We have to adopt a cautious approach for judicious use of our limited energy resources. For example, as a concerned citizen we can use public transport system in place of individual vehicle.

(iii) Another measure that needs to be adopted is promotion of energy conservation, e.g., switching off electrical devices when not in use, using power saving devices etc.

The mining activity is injurious to the health of the miners and environment as:

(a)  The dust and toxic fumes can cause pulmonary disease to the miners.

(b)  The roofs and walls of the mines have a risk of collapsing.

(c)  Flooding or fire are a great risk in mines.

(d)  The water bodies in the region get contaminated by mineral dust.

(e)  Dumping of waste and slurry degrades the land.

Conservation of minerals is important for the following reasons.

(i)   Minerals are exhaustible.

(ii)  They are limited in availability.

(iii) Minerals have manifold uses.

(iv) Growth  of industrialisation  has accelerated the extraction of minerals.

We can conserve minerals by making an efficient use of them and using recyclable sources of energy wherever possible.

Natural gas is used as a source of energy as well as an industrial raw material.

(i)   It can be transported easily through pipelines.

(ii)  Pipelines have helped in setting up fertilizer plants and power plants on its way.

(iii) Natural gas is a clean source of energy. This is because it causes very less pollution.

The Earth  grows progressively hotter  with increasing depth. Where the geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures are found at shallow depths. Groundwater  in such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot.

It is so hot that when it rises to the earth’s surface it turns  into steam. This steam is used to drive turbines and generate electricity.

Biogas can solve energy problem :

(i)   Availibitlity of raw material is not a problem.

(ii)  Awareness to be created about biogas.

(iii) It will reduce the burden on conventional sources of energy.

(iv) Educate the  rural  people about  the  use of biogas.

(v)  It is a renewable source of energy.

(vi) Eco-friendly.

Need to use renewable energy resources are :

(i)   The  growing  consumption   of  energy  has resulted  in  the  country  becoming  increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

(ii)  Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages  have  raised  uncertainties  about  the security of energy supply in future.

(iii) Has serious repercussions on the growth of our country.

(iv) Hence, there is a pressing need to use renewable energy source like solar energy, wind, tide, biomass and energy from waste material.

Non-conventional sources of energy are :

(i)   Solar Energy : India is a tropical country. It has enormous possibilities of trapping solar energy. Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Solar energy is quickly becoming popular in rural and remote areas.

(ii)  Wind Energy : India now ranks as a ‘wind super power’ in the world. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have important wind farms. Nagericoil and Jaisalmer are well-known for effective use of wind energy in the country.

Potential sources of biogas are : Shrubs, farm wastes, animal human waste, etc.

Four benefits of biogas are :

(i)   Its calorific value is high.

(ii)  It burns without smoke, causing no pollution.

(iii) It is the cheapest gaseous fuel.

(iv) Its plants provide twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.

The statement is right to a great extent. Therefore, we need to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of energy resources. We should –

(i)   Use public transport system.

(ii)  Switch off electricity when not needed.

(iii) Use power saving devices.

(iv) Use non-conventional sources of energy.

(i) Energy  is  a  basic  requirement  for economic development.

(ii)  Every sector of the national economy needs input of energy.

(iii) Consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the country.

(iv) Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortage have raised uncertainities about the security of energy supply in future.

Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural  gas, uranium  and from electricity.

The various reasons for Conservation are –

(i) Strong dependence of industry and agriculture upon minerals.

(ii) Process of mineral formation is slow.

(iii) They are non-renewable.

Methods to conserve :

(i) Minerals should be used in a planned and sustainable manner.

(ii) Improved technology needs to be constantly evolved to allow use of low grade ore at low cost.

(iii) Recycling of minerals must be practiced.

Energy is required for all activities in industries,  agriculture,  transport   and  domestic use. It implies that all these activities can take initiatives to conserve energy if we discipline ourselves.

To begin with, each one of us should be always ready and be vigilant to take note of wasteful use and correct it immediately. It may be as simple as putting off an electrical appliance when not in use. We  should  develop  a  mindset  to   use  public transport system instead of individual vehicles. Electronic devices must be switched off when not in use.

We should   use more and more power saving devices and at home we should plan to install solar panels to generate some electricity. When we do not use a particular quantity of electric power someone else use can it. In absolute sense power plants will need to produce that much less of power; which benefits the environment as that much less fossil fuel will have to be burnt.

In the present circumstances particularly in India there is a pressing need to use renewable energy resources because :

1.    Non-renewable resources are limited and will get exhausted in few decades, thus there is a need to use    inexhaustible energy resources such as solar power, for sustainable development.

2.   There has been a rapid depletion of non- renewable resources like coal, gasoline, petroleum that took millions of years to form. Thus, it makes immense sense to use renewable nonpolluting energy resources.

3.    Fossil fuels  like  coal,  petroleum  products etc., create pollution which has resulted in environmental degradation making clean energy an urgent requirement.

4.    Newer sources of fossil fuels are becoming more and more difficult to find hence they have become more expensive. Thus, it again points to adaptation to renewable energy sources like solar, geothermal wind energy etc.

Need to use renewable energy resources are :

(i)   The  growing  consumption   of  energy  has resulted  in  the  country  becoming  increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

(ii)  Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages  have  raised  uncertainties  about  the security of energy supply in future.

(iii) Has serious repercussions on the growth of our country.

(iv) Hence, there is a pressing need to use renewable energy source like solar energy, wind, tide, biomass and energy from waste material.

Conservation of minerals is the need of the hour :

(i)   Minerals are considered to be the backbone of the economy.

(ii)  Industry largely depends on mineral deposits.

(iii) Total volume of workable mineral deposits is very less-only 1% of the earth’s crust.

(iv) Mineral  resources  are  being  consumed rapidly, and minerals deposits need millions of years to be created and concentrated.

(v)  The geological process of mineral formation are so slow that  the rates of replenishment  are infinitely small in comparison to the present rates of consumption.

(vi) Mineral  resources  are  finite  and  non- renewable.

(vii) The rich mineral deposits of our country are extremely valuable but shorts-lived possessions.

Importance of Petroleum are as follows  :

(i)   Petroleum is the major energy source in India.

(ii)  It provides fuel for heat and lighting.

(iii) It provides lubricant for machinery.

(iv) It provides raw material for a number of manufacturing industries.

(v)  Petroleum refineries act as core industry for synthetic, textile, fertilizer and chemical industries.

Availability  :

(i)   Most of the petroleum reserves in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps.

(ii)  In  regions  of  folding  anticline  or  domes, it occurs where oil is trapped in the crust of the upfold.

(iii) Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks.

(i) India is a tropical country, therefore it receives sunlight  in  abundance  throughout   in rural and remote areas.

(ii)  Solar plant can be easily established in rural and remote areas.

(iii) It will minimise the dependence of rural household on firewood and dung cakes which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate quantity of manure.