Geography Ch. 5: Minerals and Energy Resources

EXERCISE

1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following mineral ores is formed by decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of weathered materials?

    (a) Coal
    (b) Bauxite
    (c) Gold
    (d) Zinc

Answer: (b) Bauxite

(ii) Koderma in Jharkhand is the leading producer of which one of the following minerals?
    (a) Bauxite
    (b) Mica
    (c) Iron ore
    (d) Copper

Answer: (b) Mica

(iii) Minerals are deposited and accumulated in stratas of which of the following rocks?
    (a) Sedimentary rocks
    (b) Metamorphic rocks
    (c) Igneous rocks
    (d) None of the above

Answer: (a) Sedimentary rocks

(iv) Which of the following minerals  is contained in the Monazite sand?

    (a) Oil
    (b) Uranium
    (c) Thorium
    (d) Coal

Answer: (c) Thorium

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) Distinguish between the following in not more than 30 words.

(a) ferrous and non-ferrous minerals

Answer:

Ferrous Minerals	Non-Ferrous Minerals
Metallic minerals containing iron are called Ferrous minerals.	Metallic minerals that contain metals other than iron are non-ferrous minerals.
They account for about three-fourths of the total value of production of metallic Minerals in India.	India’s reserves and production of non-ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.
Iron ore, manganese, chromate, tungsten, nickel and cobalt are examples of ferrous minerals.	Copper, lead, tin, bauxite, gold are examples of non-ferrous minerals as they do not contain iron.

(a) conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.

Answer: 

Conventional Sources of Energy	Non-conventional Sources of Energy
They are in use from a long time.	They are new and recent.
Most of them, especially the fossil fuels are limited and exhaustible.	They are inexhaustible and renewable resources.
Most of them cause pollution.	They don’t cause pollution.
Example, Coal, petroleum, etc.	Example, Nuclear Energy, Solar Energy, etc.

(ii) What is a mineral?

Answer: Minerals are homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure which are obtained from rocks. Minerals are classified into Metallic and Non-Metallic minerals and Energy mineral.

(iii) How are minerals formed in ingeous and metamorphic rocks?

Answer: In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints. The smaller occurances are called veins and the larger are called the 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.


(iv) Why do we need to conserve mineral resources?

Answer: We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that required million of years to be created and concentrated. The geological processes of mineral formation are so slow that the rates of replenishment is infinitely small in comparison to the present rates of consumption. Mineral resources are therefore, finite and non-renewable. Rich mineral deposits are our country's extremely valuable but short lived possessions. Continued extraction of ores leads to increasing costs as mineral extraction comes from greater depths along with decrease in quality.

3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Describe the Distribution of coal in India.

Answer: Rich reserves of coal are found in the Damodar Valley region in the states of West Bengal and Jharkhand. Raniganj in West Bengal and Jharia and Bokaro in Jharkhand are important coalfields. One third of the total production comes from here. Coal is also found in the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys. Korba in Chhattisgarh, Singrauli and Penah-kanhan valley in Madhya Pradesh, Talcher in Orissa, Kamptee and Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Singareni of Andhra Pradesh are important coal mines. The north eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Principal lignite reserves are found in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu.

(ii) Why do you think that Solar energy has a bright future in India ?

Answer: The western parts of India, especially the Thar deserts region, receive undisturbed sunshine for most parts of the year. This area has great potential for development of energy and can be utilized as a solar power house of India. Solar energy is becoming popular in different parts of the country, especially in rural and remote areas. It can be used for cooking, heating of water, room heating in cold areas, etc.