Minerals and Energy Resources
Short Questions
Question. What is a mineral?
Answer. A mineral is a homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definite internal structure.
Question. Which is the finest quality iron ore?
Answer. Magnetite is the finest quality iron ore with up to 70% iron content.
Question. Name the ore from which aluminium is obtained.
Answer. Aluminium is obtained from bauxite ore.
Question. Which mineral is used in the electrical and electronic industry for insulation?
Answer. Mica is used in the electrical and electronic industry for insulation.
Question. Which state is the largest producer of bauxite in India?
Answer. Odisha is the largest producer of bauxite in India.
Question. Name the coalfield located in Jharkhand famous for metallurgical coal.
Answer. Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand is famous for metallurgical coal.
Question. Which mineral is found in Monazite sands of Kerala?
Answer. Thorium is found in the Monazite sands of Kerala.
Question. What is the main use of manganese?
Answer. Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloy.
Question. Which energy resource is known as a “nodal industry”?
Answer. Petroleum refineries are called a nodal industry.
Question. Name the largest wind farm cluster in India.
Answer. The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoil to Madurai.
Question. Which type of electricity is generated from fast flowing water?
Answer. Hydro electricity is generated from fast flowing water.
Question. What is Rat-hole mining?
Answer. Rat-hole mining is a narrow tunnel method of coal mining done by families in Meghalaya.
Question. Which is the oldest oil producing state of India?
Answer. Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India.
Question. Which coal type has the highest quality?
Answer. Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal.
Question. Name one experimental site of geothermal energy in India.
Answer. Puga Valley in Ladakh is an experimental site for geothermal energy.
Long Questions
Question. Explain the different modes of occurrence of minerals in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Answer. In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals occur in cracks, crevices, faults or joints. The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger ones are lodes. They form when minerals in molten or gaseous state cool and solidify as they rise towards the surface.
Question. Describe the distribution of iron ore in India.
Answer. Major iron ore belts include Odisha–Jharkhand, Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur, Ballari–Chitradurga–Tumakuru in Karnataka, and Maharashtra–Goa. Odisha is famous for high-grade hematite in Badampahar mines. Iron ore from Bailadila in Chhattisgarh is exported to Japan and South Korea.
Question. Why is it important to conserve mineral resources?
Answer. Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable, taking millions of years to form. Over-extraction lowers quality and increases cost. Conservation through recycling, improved technology, and planned use is vital for sustainable development.
Question. Mention the hazards of mining.
Answer. Mining creates dust and noxious fumes, causing lung diseases in miners. It leads to land degradation, water pollution and risk of mine collapses or fires. Proper safety regulations are necessary to reduce these hazards.
Question. Differentiate between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer. Conventional energy includes coal, petroleum, natural gas, firewood and hydel power used for a long time. Non-conventional energy includes solar, wind, tidal, biogas and geothermal energy which are renewable, eco-friendly and abundant.
Question. Describe the importance of petroleum in India.
Answer. Petroleum provides fuel for transport, raw materials for chemicals, lubricants for machines and acts as a nodal industry for fertilizers and textiles. Major fields are Mumbai High, Gujarat’s Ankleshwar and Assam’s Digboi.
Question. What are the uses and production areas of mica in India?
Answer. Mica is used for insulation in electronic and electrical industries due to its dielectric strength. It is mainly found in Koderma–Gaya–Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand, Ajmer in Rajasthan and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.
Question. Explain how coal is formed and name its main types.
Answer. Coal forms from the compression of plant material over millions of years. The main types are peat, lignite, bituminous and anthracite, with anthracite being the highest quality hard coal.
Question. Describe the potential of solar energy in India.
Answer. Being a tropical country, India receives abundant sunlight throughout the year. Solar energy can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, provide electricity in remote areas and help conserve forests and manure.
Question. How can energy be conserved at the individual level?
Answer. Individuals can save energy by using public transport, switching off electrical appliances when not needed, using energy-efficient devices and promoting renewable sources like solar and wind power.
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