Chapter 5: Minerals and Energy Resources

Geography • Class 10

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Chapter Analysis

Intermediate13 pages • English

Quick Summary

The chapter 'Minerals and Energy Resources' discusses the significant mineral resources available in India, including their types, distribution, and economic importance. It also covers the different modes of occurrence of minerals and highlights the vital role of energy resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas in the economy. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the need for conservation and sustainable use of mineral resources to ensure long-term availability and ecological balance.

Key Topics

  • Types and distribution of minerals in India
  • Occurrence and economic significance of minerals
  • Energy resources: conventional and non-conventional
  • Conservation of minerals and energy resources
  • Impact of mining and energy resource extraction
  • Technologies and substitutes for mineral conservation

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the types and distribution of major minerals in India
  • Comprehend the importance of minerals in economic development
  • Identify various conventional and non-conventional energy resources
  • Appreciate the need for sustainable management of mineral and energy resources
  • Analyze the environmental and health impacts of mining activities
  • Explore the role of technology and substitutes in mineral conservation

Questions in Chapter

Which one of the following minerals is formed by decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of weathered material?

Answer: bauxite

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Koderma, in Jharkhand is the leading producer of which one of the following minerals?

Answer: mica

Page 56

Minerals are deposited and accumulated in the stratas of which of the following rocks?

Answer: sedimentary rocks

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Which one of the following minerals is contained in the Monazite sand?

Answer: thorium

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Distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals.

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What is a mineral?

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How are minerals formed in igneous and metamorphic rocks?

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Why do we need to conserve mineral resources?

Page 57

Describe the distribution of coal in India.

Page 57

Why do you think that solar energy has a bright future in India?

Page 57

Additional Practice Questions

Explain the difference between conventional and non-conventional energy resources.

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Answer: Conventional energy resources are those which have been traditionally used for a long time such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, and hydroelectric power. Non-conventional energy resources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal energy, and biogas, which are renewable and eco-friendly.

What are the advantages of using natural gas as an energy source?

easy

Answer: Natural gas is a cleaner fuel compared to coal and petroleum, as it emits less carbon dioxide when burned. It is efficient for use in the power sector, provides a cleaner alternative for cooking and heating, and serves as a raw material in chemical industries.

Identify the areas in India that are known for iron ore mining and explain their significance.

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Answer: India’s major iron ore belts include the Odisha-Jharkhand belt, Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumakuru belt in Karnataka, and the Maharashtra-Goa belt. These areas are significant due to their rich deposits that are crucial for the steel industry.

Discuss the environmental impacts of mining activities.

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Answer: Mining activities can lead to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. Dust and emissions from the mining sites also contribute to air pollution, affecting the health of the local population.

How does India’s geographical structure influence the distribution of mineral resources?

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Answer: India's geological structure with its varied rock formations provides a basis for a variety of minerals. The Peninsular region is rich in metallic minerals, coal, mica etc., while the sedimentary basins of Assam and Gujarat hold petroleum reserves.