Notes Class 10 Geography Chapter 5 Minerals and Energy Resources

Notes For All Chapters Geography Class 10 CBSE

1. Introduction

• Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition and internal structure.
• They are very important for daily life:
  • From a pin to huge ships, roads, buildings, vehicles, and machines – all depend on minerals.
  • Even toothpaste, food, and electronic items contain minerals.
• Life processes also require minerals (though only 0.3% of nutrient intake).

2. What is a Mineral?

• A homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.
• Found in different forms (hardest = diamond, softest = talc).
• Rocks are combinations of minerals. Some rocks = single mineral (e.g., limestone), but most = several minerals.
• Over 2000 minerals are identified, but only a few are common.
• Properties like color, hardness, crystal form, luster, and density help classify minerals.

3. Mode of Occurrence of Minerals

Minerals occur in different formations, which affect cost and ease of mining.

1. In Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks

• Found in cracks, crevices, faults, and joints.
• Small deposits = veins, large = lodes.
• Formed when molten/gaseous minerals rise, cool, and solidify.
• Examples: Tin, copper, zinc, lead.

2. In Sedimentary Rocks

• Found in beds or layers.
• Formed due to deposition, accumulation, and concentration.
• Examples: Coal, some iron ore, gypsum, potash salt, sodium salt.

3. By Decomposition of Surface Rocks

• Soluble elements are removed, leaving a residual mass.
• Example: Bauxite.

4. Alluvial Deposits (Placer Deposits)

• Found in sands of valley floors and at base of hills.
• Examples: Gold, silver, tin, platinum.

5. In Oceans

• Oceans contain salt, magnesium, bromine.
• Ocean beds rich in manganese nodules.

4. Rat-Hole Mining in Meghalaya

• Coal mining done in narrow tunnels by families.
• Declared illegal by National Green Tribunal due to environmental hazards.

5. Distribution of Minerals in India

• Uneven distribution due to differences in geological structure.
• Peninsular region: Rich in coal, metallic minerals, mica.
• Sedimentary basins (Gujarat, Assam, coastal areas): Petroleum, natural gas.
• Rajasthan: Non-ferrous minerals.
• Alluvial plains (North India): Poor in minerals.

6. Ferrous Minerals

(Contain iron, form strong base for metallurgical industries)

Iron Ore

• Backbone of industrial development.
• Types:
  • Magnetite: Finest ore, 70% iron, magnetic, used in electrical industry.
  • Hematite: Most important industrial ore, 50–60% iron.
• Major Iron Ore Belts:
  1. Odisha–Jharkhand belt → (Badampahar, Kendujhar, Gua, Noamundi).
  2. Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur belt → Bailadila hills (Chhattisgarh), exports via Vishakhapatnam.
  3. Ballari–Chitradurga–Chikkamagaluru–Tumakuru belt → Kudremukh (Karnataka), 100% export unit.
  4. Maharashtra–Goa belt → Goa & Ratnagiri, ores of lower quality but exported via Marmagao.

Manganese

• Used in steel production (10 kg per tonne of steel).
• Also in bleaching powder, insecticides, paints.
• Major states: Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.

7. Non-Ferrous Minerals

Copper

• Uses: Electrical cables, electronics, chemical industries.
• India is deficient in copper.
• Important mines:
  • Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh),
  • Khetri (Rajasthan),
  • Singhbhum (Jharkhand).

Bauxite

• Main source of aluminium.
• Aluminium: Strong, light, malleable, good conductor.
• Deposits found in: Amarkantak Plateau, Maikal Hills, Bilaspur–Katni Plateau.
• Odisha → Largest producer (Panchpatmali deposits, Koraput district).

8. Non-Metallic Minerals

Mica

• Found in thin sheets, used in electrical/electronic industries.
• Areas:
  • Koderma–Gaya–Hazaribagh belt (Jharkhand),
  • Ajmer (Rajasthan),
  • Nellore (Andhra Pradesh).

Limestone

• Composed of calcium carbonate.
• Found in sedimentary rocks.
• Uses: Cement industry, smelting iron in blast furnaces.

9. Hazards of Mining

• Health risks: Pulmonary diseases from dust/fumes.
• Accidents: Collapsing roofs, inundation, fires.
• Environmental issues: Land degradation, water contamination, soil pollution, air pollution.
• Need for strict safety and environmental laws.

10. Conservation of Minerals

• Mineral resources are finite, non-renewable, and take millions of years to form.
• Conservation measures:
  • Use resources sustainably.
  • Use improved technologies.
  • Recycle metals and scrap.
  • Use substitutes.

11. Energy Resources

Types of Energy Sources

• Conventional Sources: Firewood, coal, petroleum, natural gas, electricity (thermal & hydel).
• Non-Conventional Sources: Solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas, nuclear.

Conventional Sources

Coal

• Most abundant fossil fuel, main source of energy in India.
• Types: Peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite.
• Distribution: Gondwana coal (Damodar valley, Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro), Tertiary coal (NE states).

Petroleum

• Used for fuel, lubricants, raw materials.
• Refineries are nodal industries.
• Found in anticlines and fault traps.
• Major fields: Mumbai High, Gujarat (Ankleshwar), Assam (Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran).

Natural Gas

• Found with petroleum.
• Used in electricity, fertilizer, transport fuel (CNG, PNG).
• Reserves: Mumbai High, Cambay Basin, Krishna–Godavari Basin.
• HVJ pipeline (Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur) is important.

Electricity

• Two types:
  1. Hydro-electricity (from fast-flowing water).
  2. Thermal electricity (from coal, oil, gas).

Non-Conventional Sources

• Nuclear Energy: From Uranium & Thorium. Sites: Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Kerala.
• Solar Energy: Abundant in India, photovoltaic technology used.
• Wind Energy: Tamil Nadu (largest farm from Nagercoil to Madurai), also in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra.
• Biogas: From organic waste, especially Gobar gas plants in rural areas.
• Tidal Energy: Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Kachchh, Sunderbans.
• Geothermal Energy: Manikarn (Himachal Pradesh), Puga Valley (Ladakh).

12. Conservation of Energy Resources

• Energy is essential for all sectors.
• Growing demand is straining fossil fuels.
• Conservation measures:
  • Promote renewable energy.
  • Use energy efficiently.
  • Public transport instead of private vehicles.
  • Switch off electricity when not in use.
  • Use energy-saving devices.

Key Quote: “Energy saved is energy produced.”