Table of contents |
|
Introduction |
|
What is a Mineral? |
|
Ferrous Minerals |
|
Non-Ferrous Minerals |
|
Rock Minerals |
|
Conservation of Minerals |
|
Energy Resources |
|
Conservation of Energy Resources |
|
Minerals are integral to our daily lives, forming the backbone of the modern world. Everything around us, from the simplest household items to complex machinery and towering structures, is made from metals and minerals extracted from the earth's crust.
Minerals & Energy ResourcesThese essential resources are embedded in rocks and are refined to produce the metals we rely on.
Throughout history, minerals have been essential not only for industrial and construction purposes but also for cultural practices, including decoration, religious rituals, and ceremonial rites. This chapter explores the significance of minerals and energy resources in our lives, examining their types, distribution, and importance in shaping our modern world.
Minerals are “homogeneous, naturally occurring substances with a definable internal structure.”
Minerals
Minerals are usually found in “ores”. The term ore is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements.
1. In Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks:
2. In Sedimentary Rocks:
3. Decomposition of Surface Rocks:
Bauxite
4. Alluvial Deposits (Placer Deposits):
5. Ocean Waters and Beds:
Manganese Nodules
Distribution of Mineral Resources in India:
The distribution of minerals in India is uneven due to differences in geological structures, processes, and time involved in the formation of minerals.
Ferrous minerals are minerals that contain iron.
Some common ferrous minerals include:
Iron ore is the primary source of iron.
Iron Ore
Magnetite: The finest iron ore with up to 70% iron content and excellent magnetic qualities, especially valuable in the electrical industry.
Hematite: The most significant industrial iron ore in terms of usage, with 50-60% iron content.
Production (2018-19): Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Jharkhand accounted for 97% of iron ore production. The remaining 3% was produced by other states.
Major Iron Ore Belts in India:
1. Odisha-Jharkhand belt:
- High-grade hematite ore found in Badampahar mines in Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts of Odisha.
- Gua and Noamundi (Singbhum district, Jharkhand) are known for hematite iron ore mining.
2. Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt:
- Very high-grade hematites found in the Bailadila range of hills in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh.
- Iron ore from these mines is exported to Japan and South Korea via Vishakhapatnam port.
3. Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumakuru belt in Karnataka:
- Large reserves, Kudremukh deposits are known to be one of the world's largest.
- Kudremukh mines (Western Ghats, Karnataka) is a 100% export unit, known for one of the largest ore deposits globally.
- The ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangaluru.
4. Maharashtra-Goa belt:
- Includes Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
- Though the ore quality is moderate, it is efficiently exploited, and iron ore is exported through Marmagao port.
ii. Manganese:
Uses:
1. Manufacturing steel and ferromanganese alloys.
2. Making bleaching powder, insecticides, and paints.
Here are two examples of non-ferrous minerals:
Non-Metallic Minerals
Non-metallic minerals are minerals that do not contain metals as their primary constituents. These minerals have diverse applications in industry, construction, agriculture, and other sectors. Here are some examples of non-metallic minerals:
Mica is a mineral made up of thin, sheet-like structures. It is valued for its electrical insulation properties, heat resistance, transparency, and flexibility. Mica is used in electrical and electronic industries for insulating components, in the production of paints, cosmetics, and plastics, and as a filler material in construction materials like cement and asphalt.
Mica deposits are found primarily in the Chota Nagpur plateau (Koderma-Gaya-Hazaribagh belt in Jharkhand), around Ajmer in Rajasthan, and in the Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate. It is one of the most abundant non-metallic minerals and is widely used in various industries. Limestone is a key raw material for the production of cement, as it provides the necessary calcium component. It is also used in the construction industry for building materials like aggregate, dimension stone, and as a flux in steelmaking.
Limestone
These non-metallic minerals contribute significantly to the global economy and are essential for the production of a wide range of goods and materials.
Hazards of Mining
Minning
- The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
- The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation, and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to miners.
- The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.
- Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, and soil, and increases in stream and river pollution.
The total volume of workable mineral deposits is an insignificant fraction i.e. one per cent of the earth’s crust. We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that require millions of years to be created and concentrated.
Energy resources are substances or systems that can be harnessed to produce energy in various forms, such as heat, electricity, or mechanical work. These resources are essential for powering human activities, industries, transportation, and infrastructure.
Energy resources can be classified as:
Coal:
CoalCoal, the most abundant fossil fuel, serves various purposes including power generation, industrial energy supply, and domestic usage.
Petroleum:Petroleum
Natural Gas:
Electricity:
i. Nuclear or Atomic Energy: Nuclear Energy is acquired by modifying the structure of atoms, with Uranium and Thorium serving as key elements for generating atomic or nuclear power.
ii. Solar Energy: Solar energy is harnessed from the Sun's light, and photovoltaic technology directly converts sunlight into electricity.
Solar Energy
iii. Wind Power: Wind Energy, or Wind Power, involves utilizing the force of wind to generate electricity, commonly achieved through the use of wind turbines. Tamil Nadu hosts the largest cluster of wind farms, spanning from Nagercoil to Madurai.
iv. Biogas: Biogas, a form of biofuel, naturally results from the decomposition of organic waste. It is notably efficient when produced from cattle dung and enhances the quality of manure. Gobar gas plants (using cattle dung) offer dual benefits: energy production and improved manure quality, reducing deforestation and dung cake burning.
v. Tidal Energy: Tidal energy, a hydropower form, transforms the energy derived from tides into usable power, primarily electricity. Ideal conditions for utilizing tidal energy are found in the Gulf of Khambhat, the Gulf of Kachchh in Gujarat on the western coast, and the Gangetic Delta in the Sunderban regions of West Bengal in India.
vi. Geo-Thermal Energy: Geothermal energy is the heat and electricity generated from the Earth's internal heat. The Earth's temperature increases with depth, creating high geothermal gradients in certain areas. In these areas, groundwater absorbs heat from rocks and becomes extremely hot. The heated groundwater rises to the surface as steam, which can be used to drive turbines and produce electricity. India has several hundred hot springs that could be utilized for generating electricity through geothermal energy. Two experimental geothermal energy projects in India: Parvati Valley near Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh and Puga Valley, Ladakh.
Here are some key strategies for conserving energy resources:
65 videos|525 docs|79 tests
|
1. What are the main types of minerals and their classifications? | ![]() |
2. Why is the conservation of minerals important? | ![]() |
3. What are energy resources, and how are they classified? | ![]() |
4. How can we conserve energy resources in our daily lives? | ![]() |
5. What role do minerals play in our economy and daily life? | ![]() |