Minerals, Energy, Resources and We>>

Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives. (Pin to Ship)>

All living things and minerals.>
All living things need minerals
Life processes cannot occur without minerals. Although our mineral
intake represents only about 0.3 percent of our total intake of nutrients,
they are so potent and so important that without them we would not be
able to utilise the other 99.7 percent of foodstuffs.
A bright smile from toothpaste and minerals
Toothpaste cleans your teeth. Abrasive minerals like silica, limestone,
aluminium oxide and various phosphate minerals do the cleaning.
Fluoride which is used to reduce cavities, comes from a mineral fluorite.
Most toothpaste are made white with titanium oxide, which comes from
minerals called rutile, ilmenite and anatase. The sparkle in some
toothpastes comes from mica. The toothbrush and tube containing the
paste are made of plastics from petroleum. Find out where these
minerals are found?
What is a mineral?
“Homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.”
rocks - Combinations of homogenous minerals (one or more).>
Formation depends upon the physical and chemical conditions.>
impact
Geographers and Geologists
Geographers-● Study minerals as part of the earth’s crust.● Area of study - Above
the earth.
Geologists-● Study formation of minerals, their age,physical and chemical
composition.● Area of study - Below the earth.
For general and commercial purposes minerals can be classified as under.

What we are going to study in this chapter?➔ Mode of occurrence of minerals➔

Ferrous minerals■ Iron ore■ Manganese➔ Non ferrous minerals (Mica)➔ Rock
minerals (Limestone)➔ Hazards of mining➔ Conservation of minerals➔ Energy
Resources➔ Conventional➔ Mode of occurrence of minerals➔ Ferrous minerals■
Iron ore■ Manganese➔ Non ferrous minerals (Mica)➔ Rock minerals (Limestone)➔
Hazards of mining➔ Conservation of minerals➔ Energy resources➔ Conventional
sources of energy■ Coal■ Petroleum■ Natural gas■ Electricity
➔ Non-conventional source of energy■ Nuclear or atomic energy■ Solar energy■
Wind power■ Bio-gas■ Tidal energy■ Geothermal energy➔ Conservation of energy
resources
Mode of Occurence of Minerals\
Where are these minerals found?>Ores>Accumulation of any mineral mixed with
other elements>Extraction should be commercially viable<➔ The type of formation
or structure in which they are found determines the relative ease
with which mineral ores may be mined>∴ It is important to understand the types of
occurrence of minerals.
Minerals generally occur in these forms:
Mode of Occurence of Minerals - ~Veins and Lodes ~Beds and Layers~ Residual
mass of weathered material~ Alluvial deposits ~Ocean waters
Veins and Lodes>In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in the
cracks, crevices, faults or joints>two parts>[Link] occurrences(veins) [Link]
occurrence (lodes)
Formation ● 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 [Link] - Tin, Copper,Zinc and Lead
Beds and Layers>Mostly found in sedimentary rocks and formed as a
result of deposition, accumulation and concentration
in horizontal strata.● Coal and iron ore (heat and pressure).● Gypsum and Potash
salt (evaporate in arid regions).-
Residual mass of weathered material>Decomposition of surface rocks.>Removal of
soluble constituents.>Leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing
[Link] - Bauxite.
Alluvial deposits> Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits
in sands of valley floors and the base of hills.>Placer deposits> Generally contain
minerals, which are not corroded by [Link] waters ● It contains vast quantities
of minerals.● Most of these are too widely diffused to be of economic
[Link] - Common salt, magnesium, bromine and manganese
[Link] of mineral resources> India have fairly rich and varied mineral
resources, but these are unevenly distributed.
● Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and
many other non-metallic minerals.
● Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula, in Gujarat
and
Assam has most of the petroleum deposits.
● Rajasthan with the rock systems of the peninsula, has reserves of many
non-ferrous
minerals.
● The vast alluvial plains of north India are almost devoid of economic minerals.
➔ Turning a mineral ‘deposit’ or ‘reserve’ into a mine.
Ferrous Minerals -
Ferrous>iron >● Accounts for about 3/4 of the total value of producing metallic
minerals.● They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical
industries.
Iron ore >● Iron ore is the basic mineral and the backbone
of industrial development.
● India is rich in good-quality iron ores
[Magnetite.>● It has excellent magnetic qualities.● Valuable in the electrical industry.
● High content of iron upto 70 percent.
[Hematite>● The most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used.
● Has a slightly lower iron contentthan magnetite. (50-60 per cent).
**➔ The major iron ore belts in India are -
Odisha-Jharkhand belt
● In Odisha high grade hematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the
Mayurbhanj and
Kendujhar districts.
● In the adjoining Singbhum district of Jharkhand haematite iron ore is mined in Gua
and Noamundi.
Durg-Bastar -Chandrapur belt
● Very high grade hematites are found in the famous Bailadila range of hills in the
Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
● The range of hills comprises 14 super high-grade hematite iron ore deposits.
● It has the best physical properties needed for steel making.
● Iron ore from these mines is exported to Japan and South Korea via
Visakhapatnam port.
Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikmagalur Tumkur belt ● The Kudremukh mines located in
the Western Ghats of Karnataka are a 100 per cent export unit ● The ore is
transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangalore.
Maharashtra-Goa beltThough, the ores are not of very high quality, they
are efficiently exploited.● Iron ore is exported through Marmagao port.
>Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese
alloys.● Nearly 10 kg of manganese is required to manufacture one tonne of steel.●
It is also used in manufacturing bleaching powder, insecticides and paints.
Non-Ferrous Minerals >non-ferrous> Non iron content
● India’s reserves and production of non-ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.●
However, these minerals, which include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold play a
vital role in several metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries. ~copper
~bauxite Copper>● India is critically deficient in the reserve and production of
copper.● Being malleable, ductile and a good conductor, copper is mainly used in
electrical cables, electronics and chemical industries.● The Balaghat mines in
Madhya Pradesh, the Khetri mines in Rajasthan and the Singhbhum district of
Jharkhand are leading producer of copper.
Bauxite ~Bauxite deposits are formed by the decomposition of a wide variety of
rocks rich in aluminium silicates.> Alumina > Aluminium ~Important metal because
it combines the strength of metals such as iron, with extreme lightness and also with
good conductivity and great malleability.
● India’s bauxite deposits are mainly found in the Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills
and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni.➔ Odisha was the largest
bauxite-producing state in India in 2016-17.➔ Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput
district are the most important bauxite deposits in the state.
Non-Metallic Minerals> not made up metals >Mica>● Mica is a mineral made up
of a series of plates or leaves.● Mica can be clear, black, green, red yellow or
brown.● Due to its excellent dielectric strength, low power loss factor, insulating
properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is one of the most indispensable
minerals used in electric and electronic industries.
Major producing areas>● Mica deposits are found in the northern edge
of the Chota Nagpur plateau.● Koderma Gaya – Hazaribagh belt ofJharkhand is the
leading producer.● In Rajasthan, the major mica-producing area
is around Ajmer.● The Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh is also an important
producer in the country.
Rock Minerals> limestone> ● Found in association with rocks composed of
calcium carbonates or calcium and magnesium carbonates.● It is found in
sedimentary rocks of most geological formations.● Limestone is the basic raw
material for thecement industry and essential for smelting iron ore in the blast
furnace.
Hazards of Mining>Impact on Miners~i. Risk of collapsinease instream and river
pollution.
g mine [Link]. Inundation and fire in coal [Link]. Health issues.> Dust and
noxious fumes are inhaled.>Make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
Impact on Environment ~i. Water source get [Link]. Dumping of waste
and slurry leads to degradation of land, and soil and increase in stream and river
pollution. >~ Stricter safety regulations and implementation of environmental laws
are essential to prevent mining from becoming a “killer industry”.
Hazards of Mining are ~ mine roof collapsing ~fire in coal mine~bird dying due to
mining~contamination due to mining
Conservation of minerals>why there is a need of conservation >The total
volume of workable mineral deposits is an insignificant fraction [Link] percent
of the earth’s crust.>Consumption >Replenishment and mineral formation
∴ Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable.
➔ Rich mineral deposits are our country’s extremely valuable but short-lived
possessions.>explain >Continued extraction=Increasing costs mineral extraction
comes from greater depths along with a decrease in quality.
Steps for conservation>● A concerted effort has to be made in order to use our
mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner.● Improved technologies
need to be constantly evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low costs.●
Recycling of metals.● Using scrap metals and other substitutes.
ENERGY RESOURSES >ENERGY > HOW TO OBTAIN?>Energy can be generated
from fuel minerals like coal,petroleum, natural gas, uranium and from
electricity.>Energy Resources>Conventional>Firewood, cattle dung cake, coal,
petroleum, natural gas and electricity (both hydel and thermal)Non-Conventional>
Non-conventional sources include solar,wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic
energy.\
Conventional Source of Energy - [Link]>natural gas>electricity.>>Coal
and our energy needs>● Most abundantly available fossil fuel.● It provides a
substantial part of the nation’s energy needs.● It is used for power generation, to
supply energy to industry as well as for domestic needs.
formation>Depends upon the degrees of compression and the depth and time of
burial.➔ Classification of coal~ On the basis of quality and age .
Coal : On the basis of quality>Peat Has a low carbon and high moisture contents
and low heating capacity.> Lignite- Low-grade brown coal, which is soft with high
moisture [Link] principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are
used for the generation of electricity.
>Bituminous- Been buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures.
- It is the most popular in commercial use.>Metallurgical coal is high-grade
bituminous coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.
Coal : Based on ages >Gondwana Coal ● A little over 200 million years in age.●
Metallurgy coal● Damodar valley (West Bengal Jharkhand).Jharia, Raniganj and
Bokaro.>Tertiary Coal ● About 55 million years old.● Occur in the northeastern
states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.>Coal> Bulky
material >● Loses weight on use as it is reduced to ash.
● Hence, heavy industries and thermal power stations are located on or near the
coalfields.
Petroleum and our energy needs >● The next major energy source in India after
coal.● It provides fuel for heat and lighting, lubricants for machinery and raw
materials for a number of manufacturing industries. ● Petroleum refineries act as a
“nodal industry” for synthetic textile, fertiliser and numerous chemical
industries.>Explain>
Occurrences>Anticlines and fault traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age.
● The oil bearing layer is a porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may
flow.● The oil is prevented from rising or sinking by intervening non-porous layers.
● Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks.
● Gas, being lighter usually occurs above the oil.
Mumbai High, Gujarat and Assam are major petroleum production areas in India.
[ Ankleshwar is the most important field of
Gujarat. ● Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India.● Digboi, Naharkatiya and
Moran-Hugrijan are the important oil fields in the state.}} Natural gas> ● Clean
energy resource found in association with or without petroleum.● Used as a source
of energy as well as an industrial raw material in the petrochemical industry
● Environment friendly fuel : Low carbon dioxide emission ]] Reserves >Krishna -
Godavari basin,Mumbai high, Gulf of Cambayand Andaman and Nicobar islands.
HVJ Pipeline>The 1700 km long Hazira-Vijaipur Jagdishpur cross country gas
pipeline links Mumbai High and Bassein with the fertilizer,power and industrial
complexes in western and northern India.> Provided an impetus to India’s gas
production.● The power and fertilizer industries are the key users of natural gas.
● Use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG ) for vehicles to replace liquid fuels is
gaining wide popularity in the country.
Electricity>Its per capita consumption is considered as an index of
[Link] is generated mainly in two ways:[Link] electricity-By
Running water which drives hydro turbines.● Generated by fast flowing water, which
is a renewable resource.● India has a number of multi-purpose projects like the
Bhakra Nangal,Damodar Valley corporation, the Kopili Hydel Project etc.
[Link] Power By burning other fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas to
drive [Link] by using coal, petroleum and natural gas.● The thermal
power stations use non-renewable fossil fuels for generating electricity. ● Major
thermal power plants are - Singrauli, Namrup, Tolcher, Neyveli, narawara.
Non-Conventional Source of Energy
NEED >Increase in the consumption of fossil fuels.(impact)
Rising prices of oil and gas + Potential shortages>Raised the uncertainties about
the security of energy supply in future and caused serious environmental problem.
∴ There is a pressing need to use renewable energy sources like solar energy,
wind, tide, biomass and energy from waste material]] India is blessed with an
abundance of sunlight, water, wind and biomass. It has the largest programmes for
the development of these renewable energy [Link]-Nuclear or Atomic Energy
,Solar Energy ,Wind Power,Bio Gas,Tidal Energy,Geothermal Energy.
Nuclear or Atomic Energy-➔ It is obtained by altering the structure of atoms.>When
such an alteration is made, much energy is released inthe form of heat and this is
used to generate electric power] Resources-.● Uranium and Thorium, which are
available in Jharkhand.● The Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan are used for generating
atomic or nuclear power.● The Monazite sands of Kerala is also rich in Thorium.
Solar Energy-> India >Tropical country>● It has enormous possibilities of tapping
solar energy.● Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.
● Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas.
Advantages of solar power plants
Will minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes.>
Contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in
agriculture.
Wind Power> ● India has great potential of wind power.● The largest wind farm
cluster is located in Tamilnadu from Nagercoil to Madurai.● Apart from these,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have
important wind farms.● Nagarcoil and Jaisalmer are well known for effective use of
wind energy in the country.
Biogas-Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas
for domestic consumption in rural areas.
Decomposition of organic matter >[Yields gas>Has higher thermal efficiency in
comparison to kerosene, dung cake and charcoal.]
Biogas Plant >● Biogas plants are set up at municipal, cooperative and individual
levels.● The plants using cattle dung are known as ‘Gobar gas plants’ in rural India.
Twin Benefits> i. Source of energy. ii. Provide quality of manure + prevents the loss
of trees and manure due to burning of fuel wood and cow dung cakes.
Tidal Energy-Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity.
➔ How does it work?>● 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.
Regions for generation of Tidal energy>In India the Gulf of Khambhat, the Gulf of
Kachchh in Gujarat on the western coast and Gangetic delta in Sunderban regions
of West Bengal provide ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy.
Geothermal Energy-Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity
produced by using the heat from the interior of the Earth.>>How does it work? ● The
Earth grows progressively hotter with increasing depth. ● Where the geothermal
gradient is high, high temperatures are found at shallow depths.● Groundwater in
such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot. ● It is so hot that when it
rises to the earth’s surface, it turns into steam. ● This steam is used to drive turbines
and generate electricity.
There are several hundred hot springs in India, which could be used to generate
electricity.>Two experimental projects>1. The Parvati valley near Manikaran in
Himachal Pradesh. 2. Puga Valley, Ladakh.
Conservation of Energy Resources
Development= Increase in the need for energy.> Every sector of the national
economy – agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and domestic needs inputs of
energy.>As a result, consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all
over the country.
Twins of sustainable energy
● Promotion of energy conservation.
● Increased use of renewable energy sources.
➔ We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy
resources.>● Using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles.
●Switching off electricity when not in use.● Using power-saving devices.● Using
non-conventional sources of energy.{“Energy saved is energy produced”}