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Minerals : Minerals are homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.
Minerals are found in various forms in nature, ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest talc.
Rocks are combinations of homogenous substances of minerals.
Some rocks consist of a single mineral, e.g., limestone while most of rocks consist of several minerals.
There is a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density found in minerals due to physical and chemical conditions.
Minerals are important for us as they are indispensable part of our lives
Almost all everything we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building all are made from minerals.
The food that we eat also contains minerals.
Human beings use mineral for decoration, religious and ceremonial rites since the early ages.
Cars, buses, trains, aeroplanes are manufactured from minerals.
The railway lines, tarmac of the roads, implements and machinery are made from minerals.
Mode of occurrenceof minerals
Ore : Minerals are usually found in “ores”.
Naturally occuring substances from which mineral can be extracted profitably called ore.
Minerals occur in various forms.
(i) In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints.
The minerals occur in two forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks
(a) Veins (b) Lodes.
The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger are called lodes.
Major metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are obtained from veins and lodes.
(ii) In sedimentary rocks a number of minerals occur in beds or layers.
They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata.
Gypsum, potash and salt are formed as a result of evaporation, in arid regions.
Coal and some forms of iron ore are concentrated as a result of long periods under great heat and pressure.
(iii) Another method of formation of minerals involves the decomposition of surface rocks. After removal of soluble contents of rocks, leaving a residual rocks containing ores. Bauxite is formed this way.
(iv) Certain minerals occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills.These deposits are called ‘placer deposits. These minerals are not corroded by water.
Examole : Gold, Silver, Tin and Platinum.
(v) Ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, e.g., common salt, magnesium and bromide are largely derived from the ocean waters. The ocean beds are rich in manganese nodules.
Rat-Hole Mining - Coal mining in Jowai and Cherapunjee is done by family member in the form of a long narrow tunnel, known as ‘Rat hole’
mining.
[I] Ferrous Minerals:
Ferrous minerals are those metallic minerals that contains iron
Ferrous minerals account for about three fourth of the total value of metallic minerals.
They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.
Iron ore and manganese are the major ferrous minerals.
Iron Ore:
Iron ore is the basic mineral and the backbone of industrial development
Magnetite is the finest iron ore with a very high content of iron up to 70%.
Hematite ore is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used, but has a slightly lower iron content than magnetite (50-60%)
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Jharkhand are the major iron ore producing states.
The major iron ore belts in India are:
Odisha-Jharkhand belt: Hematite ore is found in this belt
Odisha - Badampahar (District : Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar)
Jharkhand - Gua and Noamundi (District : Singbhum)
Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt : (Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra) Hematite ore is found in this belt
Chhattisgarh - Bailadila range of hills ( District : Bastar )
Iron ore from these mines is exported to Japan and South Korea via Vishakhapatnam port.
Ballari-Chitradurga-ChikkamagaluruTumakuru belt - (Karnataka)
Kudremukh mines located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka
The ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to Mangaluru port.
Maharashtra-Goa belt -It includes the state of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
Manganese
Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloy. Nearly 10 kg of manganese is required to manufacture one tonne of steel. It is also used in manufacturing bleaching powder, insecticides and paints
[II] Non-Ferrous Minerals:
Non-ferrous minerals are those minerals that they do not contain iron
India’s reserves and production of non ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.
These minrals play a vital role in metallurgy, engineering, and electrical industries.
Example : Bauxite, Lead, Gold.
Copper:
Copper is malleable, ductile and a good conductor, and is mainly used in electrical cables, electronics and chemical industries.
The Balaghat mines in Madhya Pradesh, Khetri mines in Rajasthan and
Singhbhum district of Jharkhand are leading producers of copper
Bauxite:
Bauxite is a ore of aluminium.
It is a clay-like substance that alumina and later aluminium is obtained.
It is a clay-like substance from which alumina is extracted and later aluminium is obtained from alumina.
Bauxite deposits are formed by the decomposition of a wide variety of rocks rich in aluminium silicates.
Aluminium is an important metal because it has iron-like strength, extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great malleability
India’s bauxite deposits are mainly found in the Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni
Odisha is the largest bauxite producing state in India
Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are the most important bauxite deposits in the state.
Non-Metallic Minerals
Mica:
It is made up of a series of plates or leaves.
It splits easily into such thin sheets that if thousand of sheets are put together, it makes only a few centimeters thick.
Due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries.
It's deposits are found in the northern edge of Chhota Nagpur Plateau.
Koderma Gaya – Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand, Ajmer (Rajasthan), and Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh are important producer of mica.
Limestone:
It is a type of rock mineral found in sedimentary rocks.
It is composed of calcium carbonates and magnesium carbonates.
It is a basic raw material for manufacturing of cement.
It is essential for smelting iron ore in the blast furnace.
HAZARDS OF MINING
What are the impacts of mining on the health of the miners and the environment?
The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.
The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to miners.
Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil, and increase in stream and river pollution.
Conservation of minerals
Mineral resources are being rapidly consumed which takes millions of years to be created and concentrated.
Mineral resources are finite and non –renewable.
Industry and agriculture strong dependent on minerals.
The process of mineral formation is very slow.
The rate of replenishment of minerals is infinitely small in comparison to rate of consumption.
Methods to conserve :-
Minerals should be used in a planned and sustainable manner.
Improved technologies need to be evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low cost.
Recycling of metals using scrap metals.
Energy Resources
Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium and from electricity.
Energy resources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional sources.
Conventional sources include: firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas and electricity (both hydel and thermal).
They take million of years to form again; thus, they are finite and nonrenewable.
Non-conventional sources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic energy.
They are freely available, thus they are renewable
Firewood and cattle dung cake are most common in rural India.
More than 70 % energy requirement in rural households is met by these two, but continuation of these is increasingly becoming difficult due to decreasing forest area. Moreover, using dung cake too is being discouraged because it consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture
Conventional sources of energy
Coal:
In India, coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel.
It is used for power generation, to supply energy for industrial and domestic needs.
It is an indispensable raw material for iron and steel industry.
Four types of coal :
Anthracite- It is the highest quality hard coal. It contains highest percentage of carbon.
Bituminous- It is the most popular coal in commercial use. High grade bituminous coal(Metallurgical coal) is used in metallurgy.
Bituminous coal has a special value for smelting iron.
Lignite- It is a low grade brown coal
It is soft with high moisture content.
The main lignite reserve is Neyveli in Tamil Nadu.
Peat- It has a low carbon and high moisture content.
It has low heating capacity.
Occurrence of coal:
Gondwana Coal Belt—A little over 200 million years in age.
Mainly metallurgical coal is found in
(i) Damodar Valley Belt (West Bengal, Jharkhand) which contains important coal mines of Jharia, Raniganj and Bokaro
(ii) The Godavari Valley Belt
(iii) The Mahanadi Valley Belt
(iv) Wardha Valley Belt.
Tertiary coal deposits are only about 55 million years old,
They occur in North-Eastern States Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland
Petroleum
Petroleum or mineral oil is the next major energy source in India after coal
It can be easily trans-ported by pipelines and does not leave any residue.
It provides fuel for heat and light, lubricants for machinery and raw material for a number of manufacturing industries
Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry” for synthetic textile,
fertiliser and numerous chemical industries.
Occurrence of Petrol in India:
Most of the petroleum occurrences in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age.
In regions of folding anticlines it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold.
The oil bearing layer is porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may flow.
Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks.
Mumbai High—It is an offshore oilfield and is the richest oilfield of India. Its share is about 63% of India’s petroleum production.
Gujarat produces 18% and Assam 16%.
Ankeleshwar is the most important field of Gujarat. Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India. Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan are the important oil fields in the state.
Natural Gas
It is a clean energy resource as it gives out very little carbon and pollutants on burning.
Natural Gas is found with petroleum deposits and is released when crude oil is brought to the surface.
It is used as a domestic and industrial fuel, as cooking fuel (PNG) and as transport fuel (CNG).
It is used as fuel in power sector to generate electricity, for heating purpose in industries, as raw material in chemical, petrochemical and fertilizer industries, as transport fuel and as cooking fuel.
The offshore region of the Krishna- Godavari basin has the largest amount of natural gas currently available in India.
It is also available in Mumbai high, Andaman and Nicobar islands
Hazira-VijaipurJagdishpur (HVJ) gas pipeline, constructed by GAIL (India) is the first gas pipeline of india which is 1,700 km long.
Electricity
Electricity is generated mainly in two ways:
Non-conventionally, by running water which drives hydro turbines to generate hydro electricity and Conventionally, by burning other fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas to drive turbines to produce thermal electricity.
Hydro electricity is generated by fast flowing water, which is a renewable resource.
India has a number of multi-purpose projects like the Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley corporation, the Kopili Hydel Project etc. producing hydroelectric power.
Thermal electricity is generated by using coal, petroleum and natural gas. The thermal power stations use non-renewable fossil fuels for generating electricity
Non-Conventional Sources of Energy
Nuclear or Atomic Energy
Nuclear energy is obtained by altering the structure of atom.
When the structure of an atom is altered, too much energy is released in the form of heat. This heat is utilised to generate electric power.
Uranium and Thorium are used for generating atomic or nuclear power.
These minerals are available in Jharkhand, Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan.
The Monazite sands of Kerala is also rich in Thorium
Solar Energy
India is a tropical country, it has enormous possibilities of solar energy.
Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.
The use of solar energy will be able to minimize the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes.
This will also help in conservation of fossil fuels.
The largest solar plant of India is located at Madhapur near Bhuj.
Wind power
India has great potential of wind power
Wind is utilised to rotate large windmills to generate energy.
The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoil to Madurai.
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have important wind farms. Nagarcoil and Jaisalmer are well known for effective use of wind energy in the country..
Biogas
Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas.
It is more efficient than kerosene, dung cake and charcoal.
Biogas plants can be set up at municipal, cooperative and individual levels.
The plants using cattle dung are known as ‘Gobar gas plants’ in rural India.
These provide twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
It prevents the loss of trees and manure due to burning of fuel wood and cow dung cakes.
Tidal Energy
Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity.
Floodgate dams are built across inlets. During high tide water flows into the inlet and gets trapped when the gate is closed.
Once the tide recedes, the floodgates are opened so that water can flow back to the sea.
The flow of water is used to run the turbine to generate electricity.
In India the Gulf of Khambhat, the Gulf of Kuchchh in Gujarat on the western coast and Gangetic delta in Sunderban regions of West Bengal provide ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy
Geo Thermal Energy
Geo thermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the Earth.
We know that the inside of the earth is very hot. At some places, this heat is released on the surface through fissures.
Groundwater in such areas becomes hot and rises up in the form of steam. This steam is used to drive turbines.
Two geo thermal energy projects have been setup in India- the Parvati valley near Manikam in Himachal Pradesh and the Puga valley in Ladakh
Conservation of Energy Resources
Energy is a basic requirement for economic development.
Every sector of the national economy – agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and domestic – needs inputs of energy.
The economic development plans implemented since Independence necessarily required increasing amounts of energy to remain operational.
As a result, consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the country.
Conservatio of Energy Resources
There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development.
Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of renewable energy sources are the twin planks of sustainable energy.
We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of limited energy resources.
Using more of public transport system instead of individual vehicles.
Switching off electrical devices when not in use, using power saving devices.
Using non-conventional sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, etc.
Getting the power equipment regularly checked to detect damages and
leakages.
- At which place in India, experimental project for geothermal energy has been Set-up?Manikaran.
- What is hematite?Hematite is the most important iron ore
- Which state of India is the largest producer of Bauxite?Odisha
- Name the gulf that provides ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy in India.Gulf of Khambhat and Gulf of Kuchchh in Gujarat
- Which is the oldest oil producing state of ‘ India?Assam.
- What is biogas energy?Bio gas is produced from shrubs, farm waste, animal and human wastes.
- Name any one nuclear power station found in India.Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.
- Which is the highest petroleum-producing area in India?Mumbai High
- Name the minerals formed in beds and layers.Coal, and some forms of iron ore.
- Which industries uses bauxite as a raw material ?Aluminium smelting
- How is iron-ore transported from Kudremukh mines to a port near Mangaluru ?Iron- ore is transported as slurry through pipelines.
- Why are there a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density found in minerals?Due to physical and Chemical conditions
- Why are minerals are important for us.Minerals are important for us as they are indispensable part of our lives.
- Which rock consists single mineral onlyLimestone
- Why should the use of cattle cake as fuel be discouraged ?(i) It consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture.(ii) It creates pollution.
- How did the Bailadila Iron ore field get its name ?The Bailadila hills look like the hump of an ox, hence Bialadila iron- ore field get to its name
- How does mining affect the health of miners ?The dust and the noxious fumes inhaled by the mineral makes them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
- What are the two types of minerals according to occurrence in igneous and metamorphic rocks ?Two types of minerals in igneous and metamorphic rocks(a)Veins (b)Lodes
- How do minerals occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks?Or Where do minerals occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks ?In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints.
- What is a mineral?Minerals are homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.
- How power resources are classified?Power resources may be broadly categorised into conventional and non-conventional resources.
- Which are the two main minerals used to obtain nuclear energy? Name any two states where these minerals are found.Uranium and Thorium are used for generating atomic or nuclear power. They are available in Jharkhand and Rajasthan.
- What are placer deposits?Certain mineral deposits that occur in sands of valley floors and the base of the hills as alluvial deposits are called placer deposits.
- Explain any one difference between ferrous minerals and non-ferrous minerals.Ferrous minerals are those metallic minerals that contains iron on the other hand, non-ferrous minerals are those minerals that they do not contain iron.
- How are ‘Gobar Gas Plants’ beneficial to the farmers‘Gobar Gas Plants’ are beneficial to the farmers in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
- How do minerals occur in sedimentary rocks?In sedimentary rocks a number of minerals occur in beds or layers. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata.
- What are conventional sources of energy?Conventional sources of energy generally nonrenewable sources of energy which have been in common use for a long time. Example: firewood, coal, natural gas, etc.
- Why is consumption of energy rising all over India?(i) Energy is a basic requirement for economic development.(ii) Rising incomes and improving standards of living.(iii) Economic development, rising population and technological developments.
- Why is mica considered the most important mineral in electric and electronic industries? Give three reasons.or How is mica one of the most indispensable minerals ? Explain any three points.It has excellent dielectric in strength and low power loss factor.It has insulating propertiesIt has resistance to high voltage.
- Name the non-metallic mineral which can split easily into thin sheets. Mention its uses.Mica is the non-metallic mineral which can be split easily into thin sheets.Mica is used in electric and electronic industriesPlastic industry uses mica as an extender and filler.
- Why is sustainable energy key to sustainable development?(i) Energy is a basic requirement for economic development.(ii) Every sector of the national economy- agriculture, industry,transport, commercial and domestic- needs inputs of energy.(iii) Sustenance of future depends upon conservation of energy in all realms.
- Describe any three features of ferrous minerals found in India Features of Ferrous Minerals(i) The metallic minerals having iron content are called Ferrous Minerals(ii) Ferrous minerals account for about three fourth of the total value of the production of metallic minerals.(iii) They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.(iv) Iron ore and manganese are the major ferrous minerals.
- 'Consumption of energy in all forms has been rising all over the country. There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development and energy saving'. Suggest and explain any three measures to solve this burning problem.(i) Using more of public transport system instead of individual vehicles.(ii) Switching off electrical devices when not in use.(iii) Using non-conventional sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, etc.(iv) Getting the power equipment regularly checked to detect damages and leakages.
- Differentiate between anthracite and bituminous coal on the basis of quality.Anthracite(i) Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal.(ii) It is the most valuable in heat and price(iii) Anthracite coal contains more than 80% carbon.Bituminous(i) It is lower grade and soft than anthracite coal.(ii) It is the most popular coal in commercial use.(iii) Bituminous coal has a special value for smelting iron
- How can biogas solve the energy problem mainly in rural India ? Give your suggestions.(i ) There is sufficient availability of raw material for biogas in rural India.(ii) It reduce the burden on conventional sources of energy.(iii) It is a renewable source of energy.(iv) It is eco-friendly source of energy(v) Model structures should be introduced by government agencies at subsidised rate(vi ) Awareness should be created among rural people about biogas.
- Name all the six nuclear power stations of India.(i) Narora nuclear power station(ii) Kakrapara nuclear power station.(iii) Tarapur nuclear power station.(iv) Kaiga nuclear power station.(v) Kalpakkam nuclear power station.(vi) Rawat Bhata nuclear power station.
- ‘‘Minerals are unevenly distributed in India.’’ Support the statement with examples.Minerals are unevenly distributed in India:(i) Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal , metallic , minerals, mica and many other non metallic minerals.(ii) Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of peninsula in Gujarat and Assam have most of the petroleum deposits.(iii) Rajasthan with the rock system of the peninsula has reserves of many –ferrous minerals. The vast alluvial plains of North India are almost derived of economic minerals.
- Which are the two types of iron ore found in India ? Write two features of each.Two types of iron ore(i) Hematite (ii) MagnetiteFeatures -Magnetite(i) Magnetite is the finest iron ore.(ii) It has high variety content of iron to 70%Features -Hematite(i) Hematite – is the most important industrial ore in terms of its quantity.(ii) It has 50 to 60 % iron.
- Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India ? Assess the importance of its different formsAbundantly available fossil fuel in India is Coal(i) Peat- It has a low carbon and high moisture content. It has low heating capacity.(ii) Lignite- It is a low grade brown coal which is soft with high moisturecontent.(iii) Bituminous- It is the most popular coal in commercial use. High grade bituminous coal(Metallurgical coal) is used in metallurgy.(iv) Anthracite- is the highest quality hard coal. It contains highest percentage of carbon.
- “Minerals are indispensible part of our lives.” Support the statement with examples.(i) Almost all everything we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building all are made from minerals.(ii) The food that we eat also contains minerals.(iii) Human beings use mineral for decoration, religious and ceremonial rites since the early ages.(iv) Cars, buses, trains, aeroplanes are manufactured from minerals.(v) The railway lines, tarmac of the roads, implements and machinery are made from minerals.
- How can solar energy solve the energy problem to some extent in India ? Give your opinion(i) India is a tropical country, it has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy..(iii) Government should educate the people for maximum use of solar Energy.(iii) Government should give incentives and promote solar energy production in India.(iv) The use of solar energy will be able to minimize the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes.(v) It will contribute to environmental conservation.(vi) Use of Solar Energy will reduce the pressure on conventional sources of energy.
- Explain the importance of conservation of minerals. Highlight any three measures to conserve them.(i) Mineral resources are being rapidly consumed which takes millions of years to be created and concentrated.(ii) Mineral resources are finite and non –renewable.(iii) Industry and agriculture strong dependent on minerals.Methods to conserve :-(i) Minerals should be used in a planned and sustainable manner.(ii) Improved technologies need to be evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low cost.(iii)Recycling of metals using scrap metals.
- How is the mining activity is injurious to the health of the miners and environment ?(i)The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.(ii) The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.(iii) The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to miners.(iv) Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil, and increase in stream and river pollution.
- Why is energy needed? How can we conserve energy resources Explain.Energy is required for all activities. It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to propel vehicles and to drive machinery in industries.Conservation of Energy Resources(i) There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development.(ii) Promotion of energy conservation.(iii) Increase use of renewable energy resources.(iv) Judicious use of energy resources.(v) Use of public transport system.(vi) Switching off electrical gadgets when not in use.
- Differentiate between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals, with examples.Ferrous Minerals(i) Ferrous minerals are those metallic minerals that contains iron(ii) Ferrous minerals account for about three fourth of the total value of metallic minerals.(iii) These minrals provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.(iv) Example : Iron and manganeseNon-ferrous minerals(i) Non-ferrous minerals are those minerals that they do not contain iron(ii) India’s reserves and production of non ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.(iii)These minrals play a vital role in metallurgy, engineering, and electrical industries.(iv) Example : Bauxite, Lead, Gold.
