CHAPTER-5- MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES

1. What are minerals? What is its importance?

i) Minerals are natural chemical compounds uniform in composition and
structure and are
constituents of rocks and ores.
ii) These are homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable
internal structure.
iii) These are formed through various geological processes taking place in
the earth.
iv) Minerals are naturally found in solid, liquid and gaseous states ranging
from the hardest
diamond to the softest talc.
iii) Minerals are one of the most important resources of a country. It
provides sound base for
economic and industrial development.
Importance:
a) Minerals are indispensable part of our lives. Almost everything that we
use, from a
tiny pin to a towering building or a big ship, all are made from minerals.
b) The railway lines and the pavements of the roads, our implements and
machinery too
are made of minerals.
c) Cars, buses, trains, airplanes are manufactured from minerals and run
on power
resources derived from the earth.
d) Even the food that we eat contains minerals. In the stages of
development, human
beings use minerals for their livelihood, decoration, festivals and religious
and
ceremonial rites.

2. What are the properties of minerals?

i. Minerals are in wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, luster and
density because, these are formed from, a certain combination of
elements depends upon the
physical and chemical conditions under which the material forms.
ii. Minerals are naturally found in solid, liquid and gaseous states ranging
from the
hardest diamond to the softest talc.

3. Why is conservation of minerals necessary? Suggest a few

measures to conserve minerals.
i. The total volume of workable mineral deposits is only one per cent of
the earth crust.
We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that requires millions of
years to be
created and concentrated. The rate of replenishment is very slow but the
rate of
consumption is very fast. So, conservation is necessary.
ii. Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable. Rich mineral deposits
are short-lived
possessions.
iii. Continued extraction of minerals leads to increasing costs as it comes
from greater
depths along with decrease in quality. Therefore, we have to conserve it.
Measures:
a) A concerted effort has to be made in order to use our mineral resources
in a planned
and sustainable manner.
b) Improved technologies need to be constantly evolved to allow use of
low-grade ores
at low costs.
c) Recycling of metals, using scrap metals and other substitutes are steps
in conserving
it for future.

4. What is the significance of energy resources?

Energy is an indispensable requirement in modern life. It may be manual
or animal and
mechanical or electrical. Availability of energy is a pre-requisite of modern
economic
activities. Economic development of a country depends on the energy
sources available in
a country. It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to run vehicles
and to drive
machineries in industries.

5. Name the two common sources of energy in rural areas. Why is

its use discouraged?
Firewood and cattle dung are the common sources of energy in rural
areas. About 70 % of
energy requirements in rural areas is met by these two.
NM ISB - 108 -
Since forest area is decreasing, the use of firewood is discouraged to
prevent further
decreasing of forests. The use of cattle dung is discouraged because it
consumes most
valuable manure which could be used in agriculture

6. What are the advantages of petroleum as a fuel?

a) Petroleum oil emits very little smoke compared to coal.
b) It does not leave any ash or residue.
c) It can be used up to the last drop.
d) It has low ignition point and catches fire easily

7. Why is natural gas considered as the fuel for the present

century? (environmentally fuel)
i. Natural gas is an important clean energy resource found in association
with or with out
petroleum.
ii. It is used as a source of energy as well as an industrial raw material in
petrochemical
industry.
ii. It is an environment friendly fuel because of low carbon dioxide
emissions, hence it is
considered as the fuel for the present century.
Natural gas reserves are found in Krishna Godavari basin. It is found in
Mumbai High and
Gulf of Cambay. Andaman and Nicobar Islands have large deposits of
natural gas
8. What are the advantages of solar energy?
i. It is a renewable source of energy, and it will not be exhausted.
ii. It is pollution free and ecofriendly.
iii. Use of solar energy will minimize the dependence of rural house holds
on firewood or
dung cakes, which in turn will contribute adequate supply of manure in
agriculture.

9. Distinguish between natural gas and biogas.

1) Natural gas is found associated with or without petroleum. It is
naturally made. Bio-gas is
man made by decomposition of organic matters. Shrubs, farm wastes,
animal and human
wastes are used to produce biogas.
2) Bio-gas has more thermal efficiency than Kerosene and charcoal.
However, it has lower
thermal efficiency compared to natural gas.
3) Natural gas is a commercial energy whereas biogas is used for
domestic purposes.
4) Biogas Gobar gas) has a twin advantage of getting energy as well as
improved quality of
manure.
10. Suggest a few measures to conserve energy resources.
(1) Use more and more public transport system and less of individual
vehicles,
(2) Switch off electricity when not required,
(3) Use power saving devices,
(4) Check the power equipment’s regularly,
(5) Emphasis on greater use of non-conventional sources of energy are
some measures to
conserve energy resources
11.What is the mode of occurrence of minerals?
Ans. i) 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. They cool and solidify as they rise.
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. Coal and some forms of iron ore have
been concentrated as a result of long periods under great heat and
pressure. Another group of sedimentary minerals include gypsum, potash
salt and sodium salt. These are formed as a result of evaporation
especially in arid regions.
(iii) 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. Bauxite is formed this way.
(iv)Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors
and the base of hills. These deposits are called ‘placer deposits’ and
generally contain minerals, which are not corroded by water. Gold, silver,
tin and platinum are most important among such minerals.
(v)The ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, but most of these
are too widely diffused to be of economic significance. However, common
salt, magnesium and bromine are largely derived from ocean waters. The
ocean beds, too, are rich in manganese nodules.