Contemporary India Chapter 5 Minerals And Energy Resources

B.

Bauxite

B.

Mica

A.

Sedimentary rocks

C.

Thorium

Ferrous Minerals:

(i)Ferrous minerals account for about threefourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals.

(ii)They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.

Non-ferrous Minerals:

(i)India’s reserves and production of non- ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.

(ii)However, these minerals, which include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold play a vital role in a number of metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries.

Conventional sources include: firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas and electricity (both hydel and thermal).

Non-conventional sources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic energy.

Geologists define mineral as a “homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.” Rocks are the treasure of minerals. Minerals are found in varied forms in nature, ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest talc.

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. In most cases, they are formed when minerals in liquid/ molten and gaseous forms are forced upward through cavities towards the earth’s surface.

We need to conserve mineral resources for the resaons mentioned below:

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

(ii)Mineral resources are, therefore, finite and non-renewable. Rich mineral deposits are our country’s extremely valuable but short-lived possessions.

(iii)Continued extraction of ores leads to increasing costs as mineral extraction comes from greater depths along with decrease in quality.

Solar energy has a bright future in India as:

(i)India is a tropical country.

(ii)It has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy.

(iii)Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.

(iv)Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas.

(v)Some big solar power plants are being established in different parts of India which will minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes, which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in agriculture.

Across: 1. Manganese, 2. Limestone, 3. Magnetite, 4. Anthracite, 5. Bauxite, 6. Copper, 7. Gypsum.

Down: 1. Gold, 2. Hematite, 3. Mica, 4. Tertiary, 5. Tin.

B.

It makes toothpaste sparkle

D.

Diamond

B.

Ore

D.

Lodes and veins

B.

Coal

A.

Mica

A.

Veins

C.

Magnesium

D.

Gold

B.

Mica

B.

Magnetite

B.

Karnataka

D.

Orissa

B.

Kudremukh iron ore deposits

A.

Orissa

C.

Rajasthan

B.

Madhya Pradesh

A.

Manganese

B.

Marmagao

B.

Orissa

A.

Bauxite

B.

Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt

A.

they are finite and non-renewable

B.

Anthracite

C.

Sedimentary rocks

B.

Copper

A.

Coal deposits

C.

Coal

A.

Lignite

C.

Mumbai High

C.

Assam

C.

Assam

C.

Bituminous

D.

Solar energy

A.

it emits low carbon dioxide on combustion

C.

coal, petroleum and natural gas

C.

Photovoltaic technology

B.

non-conventional sources of energy

C.

Bio-gas

A.

Gulf of Kachchh

D.

Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh

A.

Tamil Nadu

D.

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

D.

Uranium

C.

Manganese

(a)The two types of metallic minerals are:

(i)Ferrous

(ii)Non-ferrous 

Ferrous metals - iron-ore and manganese.

Non-ferrous- copper and bauxite.

(b) Name of minerals in which India is rich are iron-ore and mica.

India is deficient in: Copper and zinc.

Three types of iron-ore are:

(i)Magnetite

(ii)Hematite

(iii)Limonite

Manganese is used in manufacturing bleaching powder, insecticides and paints.

Four important Iron-ore producing states in India are:

(i)Chhattisgarh            (ii) Jharkhand

(iii)Orissa                    (iv)Karnataka.

Four important manganese ore producing states in India are:

(i)Karnataka.             (ii)Orissa

(iii)Madhya Pradesh   (iv)Maharashtra

The next major source of energy after coal in India is petroleum.

The importance of Petroleum:

(i)It provides fuel for heat and lighting, lubricants for machinery and raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries.

(ii)Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry” for synthetic textile, fertiliser and numerous chemical industries.

(a) Magnetite contains 60 to 70% of iron whereas hematite contains, 50 to 60% of iron.

(b) Very high grade hematites are found in the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

The various types of coal are:

(i) Lignite: Lignite is a low grade brown coal, which is soft with high moisture content. 

(ii) Bituminous: Coal that has been buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures is bituminous coal. It is the most popular coal in commercial use. Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.

(iii) Anthracite: Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal.

The six nuclear power stations in India are mentioned below :

(i) Tarapur 

(ii) Rawatbhata

(iii) Kalpakkam 

(iv) Naruara 

(v) Kakrapara

(vi) Kaiga 

Tips: -

V. Imp.

Natural Gas:

(i)Natural gas is an important clean energy resource found in association with or without petroleum.

(ii)It is used as a source of energy as well as an industrial raw material in the petrochemical industry.

(iii)Natural gas is considered an environment friendly fuel because of low carbon dioxide emissions and is, therefore, the fuel for the present century

Biogas:

(i)Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas.

(ii)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. Biogas is by far the most efficient use of cattle dung.

(iii)It improves the quality of manure and also prevents the loss of trees and manure due to burning of fuel wood and cow dung cakes

The impacts of mining:

(i)The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.

(ii)The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to miners.

(iii)The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.

(iv)Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil, and increase in stream and river pollution.

Mica is indispensable minerals due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.

Mica deposits are found in the northern edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau. Koderma Gaya – Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer.

(a) Iron-ore belts: Iron ore belts have been marked on western coastside which extend from Ratnagiri to Marmagao.

Another belt is extended between Orissa and Bellary to Chikmaglore districts of Karnataka. One belt is extended centrol India near Durg to Bailadila and fourth belt of iron are is extended between Gua, Kendujhar in Orissa.

(b) Iron ore mines sites: Iron mines cites are Ratnagiri, Goa, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Chikmaglore, Kendujhar.

(c) Exporting Ports: Marmagao, Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Paradip.

Hints: Mica: 1. Ajmer, 2. Beawar, 3. Gaya, 4. Hazaribagh, 5. Nellore.

Bauxite: 1. Katni, 2. Bilaspur, 3. Amarkantak, 4. Maikal hill.

Manganese: 1. Sundergarh, 2. Balaghat, 3. Nagpur, 4. Bhandara, 5. Kendujhar, 6. Shimoga, 7. Goa.

A.

Aluminium

B.

Neyveli

B.

Wind

Because it is a good conductor of electricity and thus is used in the electrical equipment industry.

Three measures which need to be taken to develop a sustainable path of energy development and energy saving are:
i. By judiciously using and conserving energy resources.
ii. By taking measures such as switching off electricity when not in use, using car pooling and travelling by public transport.
iii. By using non-conventional means of energy such as wind energy and solar energy.

India is a tropical country. It has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy. Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas. Some big solar power plants are being established in different parts of India which will minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes, which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in agriculture.

Coal is the most abundantly used fossil fuel in the country. It provides a substantial part of the nation’s energy needs.

(i) Lignite-It is a low-grade brown coal, which is soft with high moisture content and used for electricity generation.

(ii) Bituminous coal- The coal that has been buried deep and subjected to increased temperature is bituminous coal. It is the most popular coal in commercial use.

(iii) Anthracite- It is the highest quality hard coal and considered a metallurgical coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.

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. Biogas has higher thermal efficiency in comparision to kerosene, dung cake and charcoal. Biogas is by far the most efficient use of cattle dung. It improves the quality of manure and also prevents the loss of trees and manure due to burning of fuel wood and cow dung cakes.

C.

Manganese ore

A.

Barium

B.

Coal

Three steps to be taken to conserve the energy resources are –

(i) Use of public transport system instead of individual vehicles.

(ii) Switching off electricity when it is not in use.

(iii) Use of power saving devices and non-conventional sources of energy.

Electricity is generated mainly in two ways-

(i) Hydro electricity is generated by fast flowing running water, which is a renewable resource. India has a number of multi-purpose projects like the Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Corporation etc. producing hydroelectric power.

(ii) Thermal electricity is generated by burning fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. The thermal power stations use non-renewable fossil fuels for generating electricity.There are over 310 thermal power plants in India.

Mica is the non-metallic mineral which can be split easily into thin sheets.
Due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is one of the most indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries.

There is a pressing need to use renewable energy resources in India because-

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

(ii) Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages.

(iii) Uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future.

(iv) The serious repercussions it has on the growth of the national economy.

(v) Increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental problems.

D.

Limestone

The geological processes of mineral formation are so slow that rates of replenishment are infinitely small in comparison to the present rates of consumption.
Mineral resources are, therefore, finite and non-renewable.

The methods for conservation:

(i) Improved technologies need to be constantly evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low coasts.

(ii) Recycling of metals, using scrap metals and other substitutes.

(iii) Usage of mineral resources in planned and sustainable manner.

 Odisha - Jharkhand Belt:
(i.) In Odisha, high grade haematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts. In the adjoining Singhbhum district of Jharkhand; haematite iron ore is mined in Goa and Noamundi.
(ii.) This belt contains high grade hematite ore found in Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj mines; exported via Paradwip Port. 
(iii.) Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts of Orissa have high grade hematite ore. Additionally, hematite iron ore is mined in Gua and Noamundi in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

Conservation of energy is essential because it protects our environment from green house gas emission and also saves valuable resources from getting depleted. If we save energy then only more energy can be produced. It is essential to use non- conventional sources of energy. 
Following are some measures to conserve energy resources:
(i.) We should try to use more and more public transport system instead of private vehicles.
(ii.) Electronic devices must be switched off when not in use. 
(iii.) It is necessary to use more and more power saving devices. 
(iv.) Reduce consumption of non- renewable sources of energy. 
(v.) If possible solar power should be used to generate electricity. 

Major metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are obtained from these veins and lodes. In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals occur in the veins and the lodes

India is blessed with plenty of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. However, they are unevenly distributed due to differences or variations in geological structures, processes and time involved in the formation of minerals. For instance, 

1. majority of coal reserves, metallic minerals, mica and many other non-metallic minerals.

2. sedimentary rocks in Gujarat and Assam have petroleum deposits.

4. the alluvial plains of North India are mostly devoid of mineral resources.

Three characteristics of Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur iron-ore belt in India are as follows : 

1.Lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

2.Very high grade hematites are found in the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chattisgarh.

3.The range of hills comprise of 14 deposits of super high grade hematite iron ore.

1. Raw Material:

The earliest industries in India developed near the sources of raw material. 

2. Energy:

The iron and steel industry has been traditionally tied with the coal resources, as it uses coking coal for fuel. Similarly, the electro- metallurgical and electro-chemical industries, being power intensive, have been located where electricity is easily available.

3. Transport:

Transport is required for carrying raw materials to manufacturing units and finished products to the market.

4. Labour:

The availability of both unskilled and skilled, or technically qualified manpower, is an important factor in the location of industries.

5. Water:

Water is required to produce hydel power and in the process of manufacturing for cleaning, cooling, washing, etc. The industries which heavily depend on water, for one purpose or the other, include iron and steel (for cooling), textile (for bleaching and washing), paper and pulp, chemical, jute, food processing, leather and atomic power.

The given below points enumerate the contribution of chemical industry to Indian economy. 
(i) Chemical industry contributes to 3% of GDP and is the third largest in Asia. 
(ii) It includes large and small scale units in both organic and inorganic sector. 
(iii) Chemicals are used by most of the industries  viz . fertiliser industries, petrochemical industries, synthetic fibre industries etc. at one stage or the other.  
The dependency on chemical industries in terms of contribution to GDP, establishing large scale and small units in both organic and inorganic sector and use of chemicals by other industries make it a fast growing and diversifying industry

(b) – Wind Power

The following are the reasons why mineral resources need to be conserved:

i. The formation of minerals takes a long geological period of millions of years.

ii. Minerals are finite and limited in supply.

iii. Many of them such as coal and petroleum are non-renewable and exhaustible.

 The following are the four ways in which mineral resources can be conserved:

i. Minerals should be used in a planned, judicious and sustainable manner.

ii. Technology should be upgraded to allow the use of low grade ore at low costs.