Q and Ans: Mineral and Energy Resources

 Mineral and Energy Resources

Q Differentiate between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals with examples.

Answer:

Ferrous minerals:

Ferrous minerals account for about three fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals.

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

India exports substantial quantities of ferrous minerals to Japan and South Korea after meeting her internal demands.

Non-ferrous minerals:

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

Non-ferrous minerals include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold.

They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries.

Non-ferrous minerals like copper and bauxite are mainly found in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha respectively.

Q Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives.” Comment. (2011 OD)

Answer:

Almost everything we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building or a ship, all are made from minerals.

 All means of transport are manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from the earth. 

Even the food that we eat contains minerals. 

Human beings have used minerals for their livelihood, decorations, festivities and in all stages of development.

Q Differentiate between metallic and non-metallic minerals with examples. 

Answer:

(i) Metallic minerals generally occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Certain minerals may also occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floor and base of hills. 

(ii) Metallic minerals comprise of ferrous minerals, non-ferrous minerals and precious metals. Ferrous minerals containing iron-ore, cobalt, account for strong development of metallurgical industries.

Non-ferrous minerals, e.g., copper, bauxite and precious metals, e.g., gold, platinum and silver play a vital role in metallurgical engineering and electrical industries.

(iii) Metallic minerals are found in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. 

Non-metallic minerals

(i) Non-metallic minerals occur in sedimentary rocks. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in the horizontal strata.

(ii) Non-metallic minerals comprise of mica, salt, limestone, granite, etc. Limestone is used as raw material in cement industries. Mica, salt and granite are indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries.

(iii) Non-metallic minerals are found in Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.

Q Explain the use of petroleum as an energy resource and as an industrial raw material. 

Answer:

The use of petroleum as a source of energy:

It is used as a fuel for internal combustion engines in automobiles.

It is used as a fuel for railways and aircrafts.

It provides fuel for heat and lighting.

The use of petroleum as an industrial raw material:

It is used as lubricant for machinery.

It is used as raw material for a number of manufacturing industries, for example, chemical industry.

Its numerous by-products are used in petrochemical industries such as fertilizer, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre, medicines, vaseline wax, soap, cosmetics etc.

Q Distinguish between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy. 

Answer:

Energy sources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional sources.

Conventional sources 

(i) They have been in use since ages. 

(ii) Except hydel power they are exhaustible or non-renewable, e.g., coal, petroleum and natural gas.

(iii) These non-renewable resources create pollution. 

(iv) Except water, all other sources of energy are available in limited quantities. 

(v) It is costly. 

(vi) Because of their limited availability and exhaustible nature, we cannot depend on them for a long time. 

Non Conventional sources 

(i) The technology for their large-scale development is relatively new.

(ii) They are inexhaustible sources of energy, e.g., solar, wind and tidal energy.

(iii) They are pollution-free, therefore are eco­friendly.

(iv) They are freely and abundantly available in nature.

(v) It is a cheaper source

(vi) Because of their abundant availability, they are dependable sources. Therefore, they are called our future energy resources.

Q Explain any three steps to be taken to conserve the energy resources.

Answer:

We need to develop a sustainable path of energy development, i.e., increased use of renewable or non-conventional energy resources.

We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources.

As concerned citizens we can do our bit by using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles, switching off electricity when not in use, using power saving devices etc.

Q Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India? Mention its different forms. 

Answer:

The most abundantly available fossil fuel is Coal.

There are four types of coal:

1 Anthracite. It is the highest quality hard coal. It contains more than 80% carbon content. It gives less smoke.

2 Bituminous. It is the most popular coal in commercial use and has 60-80% carbon content. Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal and is of special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.

3 Lignite. It is a low grade brown coal. It is soft with high moisture content.

4 Peat. It has a low carbon and high moisture content. It has low heating capacity and gives lot of smoke on burning.

Q What are the main types of formations in which minerals occur?

Answer:

Minerals generally occur in the following forms:

1 Veins and lodes- In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in the cracks, faults or joints by getting solidified in them. The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger lodes, eg., metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are found in lodes and veins.

2 In sedimentary rocks minerals occur in beds or layers. They are formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata. Some sedimentary minerals are formed as a result of evaporation, especially in arid regions eg., gypsum, potash and salt.

3 Another mode of formation involves decomposition of surface rocks and the removal of soluble contents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing ores. Bauxite is formed this way.

4 Placer deposits- Certain minerals occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills, eg., gold, silver, tin and platinum. These are called placer deposits and contain minerals which are not corroded by water.

5 Ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, eg., common salt, magnesium and bromide are largely derived from the ocean waters. The ocean beds are rich in manganese nodules.

Q Explain the importance of conversation of minerals. Highlight the measures to conserve them.

Answer:

Conservation of minerals is necessary because of the following reasons:

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

They are finite, i.e., limited in nature.

Many of them are non-renewable and exhaustible.

The rate of replenishment of minerals is infinitely small in comparison to rate of consumption.

They have to be preserved for our future generations because they are very important for industrial development of the nation.

Ways to mineral conservation:

We should use minerals 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 should be done.

Using scrap metals and other substitutes should be promoted.

Wastag

es in mining, processing and distribution should be minimized.

Controlled export of minerals should be undertaken.