Minerals Main
Minerals Main
Minerals Main
Question 30.
Which are different types of coal ?
Answer:
Lignite, bituminous and anthracite.
Question 31.
State two types of electricity.
Answer:
1. Hydro-electricity.
2. Thermal electricity.
Question 32.
Where is Kaiga thermal power plant ?
Answer:
Kaiga thermal power plant is in Karnataka.
Question 33.
In which state the largest solar power plant is located ?
Answer:
The largest solar power plant of India is located at Madhapur, near Bhuj.
Question 34.
How hiogas is produced in rural areas ?
Answer:
Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for domestic
consumption in rural areas.
Question 35.
Which nuclear plant is situated in Tamil Nadu ?
Answer:
Kalpakkam nuclear power plant is located in Tamil Nadu.
Question 36.
Which country is ranked as a ‘wind super power’ in the world ?
Answer:
India is ranked as a ‘wind super power’ in the world.
Question 37.
In India which place provides ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy ?
Answer:
Gulf of Kuchchh.
Question 38.
What is geothermal energy ?
Answer:
Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the
interior of the earth.
Question 39.
How you can contribute towards the conservation of energy resources ? State one way.
Answer:
We can contribute towards the conservation of energy by using public transport systems
instead of individual vehicles.
Question 40.
Which are the two planks of sustainable energy ?
Answer:
Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of renewable energy sources are the twin
planks of sustainable energy.
Question 1.
Describe the importance of minerals in human life.
Answer:
1. Minerals are an indispensable part of human life. Almost all things we use are made
of minerals.
2. Human beings use minerals for their livelihood, decoration, festivities, religious and
ceremonial rites.
3. Buildings, ships, railway lines, cars, buses, aeroplanes, various implements etc. are
manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from the earth.
4. Our food too contains minerals. Life processes cannot occur without minerals.
5. They are very important part of total food intake.
6. It is only 0.3 per cent of the total intake of nutrients but they are so potent and so
important that without them we would not be able to utilise the other 99.7 per cent of
the foodstuffs.
7. In toothpaste, fluoride which is used to reduce cavities, comes from a mineral fluorite.
Question 2.
“Minerals are found in varied forms in nature ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest
talc.” Why are they so varied ?
Answer:
The reasons are as mentioned below :
Question 3.
Which are the ideal conditions under which minerals may be mined ?
Answer:
The ideal conditions for mining of minerals are as given below :
1. The mineral content of the ore must be in sufficient concentration to make its
extraction commercially viable.
2. The type of formation determines the relative ease with which mineral ores may be
mined.
3. This also determines the cost of extraction.
Question 4.
Describe the main types of formations in which minerals occur.
Answer:
The minerals occur in various types of formations as given below :
(1) Igneous and metamorphic rocks : See Textbook Exercise Question 2(3).
(2) In sedimentary rocks : Minerals occur in beds or layers.
(3) Some minerals like bauxite are formed due to decomposition of surface rocks and the
removal of soluble constituents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing
ores, e.g., bauxite is formed this way.
(4) Certain minerals like gold, silver, tin and platinum occur as alluvial deposits in sands of
valley floors and the base of hills. These are called ‘placer deposits’ and contain minerals,
which are not corroded by water.
(5) Ocean waters : Some minerals like common salt, magnesium and bromine are largely
derived from ocean waters. The ocean beds too are rich in manganese nodules.
Thus, minerals are found in various types of formations.
Question 5.
Describe the factors that play an important role in affecting the economic viability of a
reserve. How does reserve turns into a mine ?
Answer:
(1) Important factors affecting the economic viability of reserve are as mentioned below
:
Question 6.
“India has fairly rich and varied mineral resources but they are unevenly distributed.”
Explain.
Answer:
(1) The above statement is correct. India is rich in mineral resources but they are
unevenly distributed as mentioned below :
1. Peninsular rocks : These 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 economic minerals.
(2) Causes of these variations are differences in the geological structure, processes and time
involved in the formation of minerals.
Question 7.
Describe the different types of iron ores and their importance or uses.
Answer:
(1) There are four types of iron ores :
1. Magnetite : It is the finest quality with a very high content of iron up to 70 per cent.
It has excellent magnetic qualities, especially valuable in electrical industry.
2. Haematite : It has content of iron between 50 to 60 per cent. It is the most important
industrial iron that is used in industries. ,
3. Limonite : It has iron content of about 40-60 per cent.
4. Siderite : It has content of between 40 to 50 per cent.
(2) Iron ore is very important for the industrial development of the country. It is a metal of
universal use. It is used for manufacturing of machines, agricultural implements and items of
general use.
Question 8.
Describe the major iron ore belts in India.
Answer:
The major iron ore belts in India are given below :
(1) Orissa-Jharkhand belt :
• High grade haematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and
Kendujhar districts.
• Gua and Noamundi in Singbhum district of Jharkhand.
• It is in Karnataka.
• Kudremukh mines in the Western Ghats of Karnataka are a 100% export unit.
• Kudremukh deposits are the largest in the world. The ore is transported as slurry
through a pipeline to a port near Mangalore.
Question 9.
Describe the uses of manganese. Where is it found in India ?
Answer:
(1) Uses :
(2) Orissa is the largest producer of manganese ores. It produced one-third of the country’s
total production in 2000-01. Karnataka produces 15%, Madhya Pradesh 22% and other states
produce 30% manganese in the country. See the figure given below :
Question 10.
Describe the distribution of copper in India. What are its uses and what is the position of
India regarding its availability ?
Answer:
1. Copper is found in the Balaghat mines (Madhya Pradesh), Singbhum district of
Jharkhand and Khetri mines in Rajasthan. The Balaghat mines produce 52 per cent of
India’s copper. However, India is critically deficient in the reserve and production of
copper.
2. Copper is malleable, ductile and a good conductor and is, therefore, mainly used in
electrical cables, electronic and chemical industries.
Question 11.
Write a short note on bauxite, its formation, features and distribution in India.
Answer:
(1) Type of mineral : Bauxite is a clay-like substance from which alumina and later
aluminium is obtained. Aluminium is an important metal because it combines the strength of
metals such as iron, with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great malle-
ability.
(2) Formation : Bauxite deposits are formed by the decomposition of a wide variety of rocks
rich in aluminium silicates.
(3) Distribution :
1. It is found in the Amarkantak plateau, Maikal Hills and the plateau region of
Bilaspur-Katni. Orissa is the largest bauxite producing state in India with 45 per cent
of the country’s total production in 2000-01.
2. Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are the most important bauxite deposits in
the state.
Question 12.
Name the non-metallic mineral which can split easily into thin sheets ? Mention its uses.
Or
Describe the formation, distribution and uses of mica in India.
Answer:
1. Mica is a non-metallic mineral which can be split easily into thin sheets that a
thousand can be layered into a mica sheet of a few centimeters height. It is made up of
a series of plates or leaves.
2. Mica can be clear, black, green, red, yellow or brown.
3. Uses : It has excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties
and resistance to high voltage, and is, therefore, very useful and indispensable mineral
in electric and electronic industries.
4. Distribution : It is found in the northern edge of the Chhota Nagpur plateau, around
Ajmer in Rajasthan and Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh. Koderma Gaya-
Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer of mica.
Question 13.
Describe how limestone is found. What are its uses ? Describe its distribu¬tion in India.
Answer:
Question 14.
Describe the hazards of mining or describe the impact of mining on the health of the miners
and the environment. What is the position of miners in India ?
Answer:
(1) The hazards of mining or the impacts of mining on the health of the miners and the
environment are given below :
1. The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary
diseases.
2. The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant
threat to miners.
3. The water sources in the area get contaminated due to mining.
4. It leads to degradation of soil and land due to dumping of waste and slurry.
5. It increases pollution in stream and river.
(2) The condition in coal mines in India are sometimes not satisfactory. Underground fires
start mostly from burning trash close to coal pits. Over 50% of coal-belt mines are not safe in
India. The companies which own mines do not meet the basic safety standards. The safety
status of mines has been graded second and third degrees in the past. Lack of security
measures in the coal mines leads to disasters. It has, in practice, become a ‘killer industry’
because many miners are killed every year due to explosions or other incidents in the mines.
Question 16.
State another name of lignite coal and write any one feature and use of the same.
Or
Describe qualities of different types of coal found in India. Describe its formation,
distribution and uses.
Answer:
(1) There are four types of coal. Their qualities are given below :
1. Peat : It has low carbon and high moisture contents and low heating capacity.
2. Lignite : It is a low grade brown coal. It is soft with high moisture content. It is used
for generation of electricity.
3. Bituminous : It is the most popular coal in commercial use. Metallurgical coal, a high
grade bituminous coal has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.
4. Anthracite : It is the highest quality hard coal.
(2) Formation : It is formed due to the compression of plant material over millions of years.
(3) Distribution : Coal is found in Damodar valley i.e., West Bengal, Jharkhand, Jharia,
Raniganj, Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys, Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh and Nagaland.
(4) Uses of coal :
1. It is used for power generation, to supply energy to industry as well as for domestic
needs.
2. It meets most of the commercial energy requirements in India.
Question 17.
Highlight the importance of petroleum. Explain the occurrence of petrolei ? in India. [CBSE
2016]
Answer:
(1) Importance : It is the second major energy source in India after coal. Its uses are as
given below:
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.
4. The oil is prevented from rising or sinking by intervening non-porous layers.
1. 63% of India’s petroleum production is from Mumbai High, 18 per cent from Gujarat
and 16 per cent from Assam.
2. Ankeleshwar is the most important field of Gujarat.
3. Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India. Digboi, Naharkatiya and Mora a
Hugrijan are the important oil fields in the state.
Question 18.
Write a short note on natural gas as a conventional source of energy with special reference to
its uses, features and distribution.
Answer:
Question 19.
What are the two main ways of generating electricity ? How are they different from each
other ?
Or
Differentiate between hydro electricity and thermal electricity.
Or
Why per capita consumption of electricity is considered as an index of development ?
Answer:
(1) Electricity is generated in two ways :
(2) For progress and prosperity of individuals and the nation, electricity is an important
requirement. It is used at homes as well as in offices and in industries. It has a very wide
range of applications in today’s world. That is why its per capital consumption is considered
as an index of development.
Question 20.
How nuclear or atomic energy is obtained ? Mention the nuclear power stations and the states
where they are located.
Answer:
(1) Nuclear or atomic energy is obtained by altering the structure of atoms. When such an
alteration is made, much energy is released in the form of heat and this is used to generate
electric power. It is produced by using uranium and thorium. These are available in
Jharkhand and the Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan. Monazite sands of Kerala contain uranium.
India has vast deposits of thorium which is about 50 per cent of world’s deposits.
(2) Six nuclear power stations are located in the states as mentioned below :
Question 21.
Why should non-conventional energy be used more ? Explain.
Or
Why is there a pressing need for using renewable energy sources in India ? Explain.
Answer:
The reasons for using renewable energy sources or non-conventional energy such as
solar, wind, water are as mentioned below :
Question 22.
Describe the importance of wind energy in India with special reference to its uses.
Answer:
India has a wind power potential of 20,000 MW. This energy requires only initial cost on the
establishment of wind farm. The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from
Nagarcoil to Madurai. Wind farms have been established in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep. India now ranks as a “wind super power” in
the world.
Question 23.
How is biogas produced ? What are its uses ?
Answer:
(1) Production : Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for
domestic consumption in rural areas. Decomposition of organic matter yields gas, which has
higher thermal efficiency in comparison to kerosene, dung cake and charcoal.
(2) Uses of biogas :
Question 24.
What is tidal energy ? How does it generate electricity ? Which area provides ideal conditions
for utilising tidal energy in India ?
Answer:
(1) Tidal energy means use of oceanic tides to generate electricity.
(2) Generation of electricity : 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. After the
tide falls outside the floodgate, the water retained by the floodgate flows back to the sea via a
pipe that carries it through a power-generating turbine.
(3) Areas of ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy : The Gulf of Kuchchh provides
ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy. The National Hydropower Corporation has set up a
900 MW tidal energy power plant in the Gulf of Kuchchh.
Question 25.
What is Geothermal Energy ? Name the places where experimental projects for geothermal
energy have been set up in India.
Answer:
(1) Geothermal Energy : It refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from
the interior of the earth.
(2) In India, two experimental projects have been set up as mentioned below :
Question 26.
Describe the steps that should be taken for conservation of energy re¬sources.
Answer:
The following steps should be taken for conservation of energy resources :
1. Use more and more of public transport system and less of individual vehicles.
2. Switch off electricity whenever not required.
3. Use power-saving devices.
4. Check the power equipment regularly.
5. Greater use of non-conventional sources of energy.
These steps are necessary because “energy saved is energy produced”.
MAP QUESTIONS
Question 1.
Show important places where the following minerals are found :
1. Iron ore
2. Manganese
3. Bauxite
4. Mica