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NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 17 Mineral and Energy Resources
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Mineral and Energy Resources
Chapter: 17
PART – II INDIA: PEOPLE AND ECONOMY
Very Short Type Questions Answer
1. Where is bauxite mainly found?
Ans: Bauxite is found in most countries, but the larger deposits occur in the tropics.
2. Name the regions where no mineral is found.
Ans: The alluvial plains of Northern India are devoid of any minerals.
3. Is iron ore a ferrous or non-ferrous mineral?
Ans: Some examples of ferrous minerals include iron ore, manganese, nickel and chromite.
4. Name the three electricity regions of India.
Ans: Individual State grids were interconnected to form 5 regional grids covering mainland India, the Northern, Eastern, Western, North Eastern and Southern Grids.
5. Which state produces mica the most?
Ans: Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of mica in India. In Andhra Pradesh, Nellore district produces the best quality mica. Mica is mainly used in the electrical and electronic industries.
Short Type Questions Answer
1. How are conventional sources of energy different from non-conventional sources of energy?
Ans: Conventional sources are formed from natural processes, while non-conventional sources are harnessed from natural sources like wind sunlight. Conventional sources of energy examples are coal, fossil fuels, petroleum, and others.
2. Distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals.
Ans:
| Basic | Ferrous minerals | Non-ferrous minerals |
| Definition | Ferrous minerals are those minerals that contain iron. Some examples of ferrous minerals include iron ore, manganese, nickel and chromite. The metallic minerals that contain metals other than iron are called non-ferrous minerals. Some examples are gold, copper, silver, lead, and tin. | Non-ferrous minerals are also metallic, but they do not contain iron. Non-ferrous minerals are not magnetic. Examples: Gold, copper, zinc, etc. |
| Functions | Ferrous minerals are those metallic minerals that contain iron. For example, minerals such as iron ore, cobalt, manganese, and nickel are included in this category. These minerals play a major role in the development of the metallurgical industry across India by providing it with a strong base. | Minerals that do not contain iron content are called non-ferrous minerals. These include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold. They play an important role in metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries. |
| Problems | Minerals are substances naturally formed in the Earth. Minerals are typically solid, inorganic, have a crystal structure and are formed by geological processes naturally. A mineral may consist of a single chemical element or a compound more usually. | All numerous non-ferrous metals, the eight most important are lead, copper, zinc, aluminium, tin, manganese, nickel and antimony, to which is now added the wonder metal-titanium. |
3. How would you differentiate between hydel power and thermal power?
Ans:
| Basic | Hydel power | Thermal power |
| meaning | This hydropower system uses a dam to store water in a reservoir. After it is stored the water inside is released from the reservoirs and flows to the turbine. The water flowing to the turbine helps it to spin and ultimately produces electricity. | Thermal power plants are power stations which convert heat energy into electric energy. Thermal power plant is a collective term which includes fossil fuels, geothermal, solar and nuclear power plants as well as waste incineration plants. |
| Objective | Hydropower from Ancient Greek water, also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power. | Certain thermal power stations are also designed to produce heat for industrial purposes for district heating or desalination of water, in addition to generating electrical power. Fuels such as natural gas or oil can also be burnt directly in gas turbines internal combustion. |
| Aim | Hydropower plants can generate power to the grid immediately, they provide essential backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions. | Converting heat into electricity. |
4. Name the sources of conventional energy and explain them.
Ans: When we cannot reuse a source of energy after using it once we call them “conventional sources of energy” or “nonrenewable energy resources”. They are the most important conventional sources of energy. These include coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear energy.
5. Describe the coal fields of India.
Ans: About half of India’s coal reserves are proven, 42% are indicated/probable, and 8% are inferred. Coal deposits are primarily found in eastern and south-central India. Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh accounted for almost 70% of the total known coal reserves in India.
6. Why the distribution of minerals is very uneven in the country.
Ans: India is blessed with plenty of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. However they are unevenly distributed due to differences and variations in geological structures,processes and time involved in the formation of minerals.
Long Type Questions Answer
1. Write an essay on non-conventional sources of energy.
Ans: Non-conventional energy sources consist of those energy sources that are infinite, natural and restorable. For example, tidal energy, solar energy and wind energy. Energy generated by using wind, tides, solar, geothermal heat and biomass is known as non- conventional energy. All these sources are renewable or inexhaustible and do not cause environmental pollution. It is also known as the renewable source of energy replacing the conventional fuels like coal, diesel, petrol etc. The energy thus produced is used extensively in four distinct areas: electricity generation, hot water/heating, motor fuels and rural (off- grid) energy services. The sun is the most abundant and unlimited source of energy. As a result, solar energy is one of the most important non-conventional sources of energy that is utilised in India. In India, the area of Thar Desert that is in Rajasthan, has been set aside for solar power projects.
Reliance Industries has commissioned the largest solar thermal project in Rajasthan. Additionally, solar street lighting systems, solar lanterns, solar cookers, solar water heating systems etc have been installed both in cities and in rural areas.Earlier, rivers were used to transport wood logs, but now it is a limitless renewable source of energy. For producing electrical power, dams are built close to estuaries to make use of inward and outward water currents. Tidal. Power Plant technology is still immature,that is why, currently India does not have any operational tidal energy plant. In India, states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra are regarded as superior areas with respect to wind energy.The development of wind power in India began in the 1990’s and has significantly increased in the last few years. India’s domestic policy support for wind power has led India to become the country with fifth largest installed wind power capacity in the world.Biomass is another important source of energy which represents approximately 33% of the overall volume of fuel used in the country. It is broadly utilised in domestic circles for preparing food etc. In some areas, farming disposables, timber, wood, sunbaked droppings, are also used. Geothermal energy is also a non-conventional source of energy which is obtained from the heat of the earth’s interior.
As the consumption of energy grows, the population depends more and more on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas day by day. There is a need to secure the energy supply for the future since the prices of gas and oil keep rising by each passing day. So we need to use more and more renewable sources of energy. For the effective exploitation of non-conventional sources, there has been an establishment of a separate department namely “Department of non-conventional sources of energy” by the government of India.
2. Describe the iron ore, its production and distribution.
Ans: Iron Production the production of iron from its ore involves an oxidation-reduction reaction carried out in a blast furnace. Iron ore is usually a mixture of iron and vast quantities of impurities such as sand and clay referred to as gangue. The iron found in iron ores are found in the form of iron oxides. As a result of these impurities, iron must be first separated from the gangue and then converted to pure iron. This is accomplished by the method of pyrometallurgy, a high temperature process. A wide variety of iron ore is found in different parts of India. However, the majority of the reserves and iron ore fields in India are concentrated in a few selected states in the country, namely Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Karnataka. Apart from these, Rajasthan, Assam, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh also have some iron ore mines.
When it comes to global exporters of iron ore, India ranks 5th on the list. Approximately 50% to 60% of iron ore production in the country is exported to different countries like Korea, Japan, and the countries of the Gulf. Japan is the largest purchaser of iron ore from India, amounting to almost 3/4th of the total production. Iron Ore Distribution in India has significant reserves of iron ore, with the majority of the deposits located in the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Goa.
(i) Iron ore resources are relatively abundant in India. Hematite and magnetite are the two most common types of ore found in our country.
(ii) The iron ore mines are located near the coal fields in the northeastern plateau region. Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu account for approximately 95% of total iron ore reserves.
(iii) Jharkhand is home to some of the oldest iron ore mines, as well as the majority of the iron and steel plants.
(iv) Iron ore deposits are found in Karnataka in the Sandur-Hospet area of the Ballari district, the Baba Budan hills and Kudremukh area of the Chikkamagaluru district, and parts of the Shivamogga, Chitradurg, and Tumkur districts.
(v) Other iron mining districts include Maharashtra’s Chandrapur, Bhandara, and Ratnagiri districts, Telangana’s Karimnagar and Warangal districts, Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool, Cuddapah, and Anantapur districts, and Tamil Nadu’s Salem and Nilgiris districts.
(vi) Iron ore is produced in approximately 60 countries worldwide. Iron ore is primarily produced in China, Brazil, Australia, India, Russia, Ukraine, the United States, South Africa, Canada, Sweden, etc. Australia is the world’s largest producer, followed by Brazil and China.
3. Describe the importance of bauxite and mica with production areas.
Ans: Bauxite and mica are both important mineral resources with significant economic and industrial relevance. Their production areas play a crucial role in shaping the geography and economy of regions where they are found. Here’s an overview of the importance of bauxite and mica, along with their production areas in geography:
Bauxite:
(i) Importance: The principal uses of bauxite are multipurpose covering metallurgy, chemical industries, as raw material in building and road aggregates. Bauxite is the best and only material for making aluminium metal. Bauxite is used in the chemical industry, refractory bricks, abrasives, cement, steel, and petroleum.
(ii) Production Areas: Odisha is India’s largest bauxite producer accounting for about 49% of the total production followed by Gujarat (24%), Jharkhand (9%), Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra (8% each). The remaining was produced by Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
(iii) Geographical Impact: Bauxite ore is known to be chemically active and is easily attacked by atmospheric oxygen, heat, moisture and micro-organism. Rain water draining through ore piles turns acidic and dissolves metals which may eventually affect both groundwater and surface water bodies.
Mica:
(i) Importance: Mica can be made into thin sheets. They are heat tolerant, insulating and dielectric. Because of these properties, they are used in electrical appliances. They are used in control devices, heating devices, neon lights and other lighting equipment.
(ii) Production Areas: Mica deposits are present in Nellore, Guntur, Cuddapah, in Andhra Pradesh (first in-country), Bhilwara, Ajmer, Jaipur, Udaipur and Tonk in Rajasthan (second in-country), Hazaribag, Koderma, Giridih, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Palamu in Jharkhand (third in-country) Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and Begusarai in Bihar, Madurai and.
(iii) Geographical Impact: Mica, any of a group of hydrous potassium, aluminium silicate minerals. It is a type of phyllosilicate, exhibiting a two-dimensional sheet or layer structure. Among the principal rock-forming minerals, micas are found in all three major rock varieties-igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
4. Name the four atomic power plants of India with their States.
Ans: As of my last update in January 2022, India has several nuclear power plants across the country. Here are four of the major atomic power plants in India along with their respective states:
(i) Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS): The Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) is located near Boisar in the Thane District of Maharashtra. Begun as India’s first atomic power project, the Indian Government decided to utilise Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) for the plant.
(ii) Kaiga Atomic Power Station: It is the third-largest nuclear power plant in India, Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS), located in Karwar district, is near river Kali in Karwar district of Karnataka. Surrounded by verdant rainforest, KAPS is run by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).
(iii) Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant: The Kudankulam power plant is located in the coastal Tamil Nadu. It is a Civilian Nuclear Power Plant, built by India in joint-collaboration with Russia. There are a total of 7 operating nuclear power plants in India, and all of these facilities are a part of India’s Critical Information Infrastructure.
(iv) Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS): Located at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) was the first facility in India to operate pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). RAPS’ Unit-1 was built as a 220MWe CANDU PHWR and constructed with Canadian assistance.
These are just a few examples, and India has several other nuclear power plants across different states, contributing significantly to the country’s energy needs.
5. What is lignite? Where is it mainly found in India? Give its two merits.
Ans: Lignite is a type of coal that is considered to be the lowest grade of coal due to its relatively low carbon content and high moisture content. It is often referred to as brown coal. Lignite is formed from compressed peat and is intermediate between peat and sub-bituminous coal in the coalification process.
In India, lignite deposits are mainly found in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The major lignite deposits in India are:
(i) Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC): NLC India Ltd (NLC) a Government of India Enterprise, is a mining and power generation company. It operates open cast lignite mines; produces electricity using lignite, coal and from renewable sources such as wind and solar sources. The company sells electricity to state DISCOMS in Southern India and Rajasthan.
(ii) Tadkeshwar Lignite Mine: The lignite mined out is used as fuel to the linked pithead power stations. Also raw lignite is being sold to small scale industries to use it as fuel in their production activities.
Merits of Lignite:
(i) Abundant Reserves: Coal Reserves Coal is the most abundant of all the fossil fuels, therefore, a significant amount of coal in reserves still exists worldwide-around 1012 tonnes. Although these areas are spread out, major reserves are in the United States, Russia, China, Australia, and India.
(ii) Easy Accessibility: Accessibility is defined as the ability to reach a place with respect to another place. In this context, accessibility refers to the ease of reaching destinations. People who are in locations that are more accessible will be able to reach activities and destinations faster than those in inaccessible locations.
Therefore, while lignite remains an important energy resource, efforts are being made to develop cleaner and more efficient technologies for its utilisation, such as advanced combustion and gasification processes.
6. Write a brief note on distribution of minerals in India.
Ans: India is rich in mineral resources, with a diverse range of minerals found across different regions of the country. The distribution of minerals in India is influenced by geological factors such as the age and type of rocks, tectonic processes, and environmental conditions. Here’s a brief overview of the distribution of minerals in India.
(i) Iron Ore: Iron ore is a mineral that produces metallic iron when heated in the presence of a reductant (Fe). It is almost always made up of iron oxides, the most common of which are magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (Fe2O3) (Fe2O3). Iron ore is the primary source of iron for the iron and steel industries around the world.
(ii) Coal: Coal is a sedimentary deposit composed predominantly of carbon that is readily combustible. Coal is black or brownish-black, and has a composition that (including inherent moisture) consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material.
(iii) Bauxite: Bauxite is an ore of aluminium. Bauxite ore is formed in tropical climates. Bauxite ore consists of a mixture of fairly soft minerals. These minerals are diaspore (α-AlO(OH)), gibbsite (Al(OH)3), boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)), and the iron oxide minerals (hematite and goethite namely), which give it the red-brown colours.
(iv) Manganese: Manganese is not found as a free element in nature. It is often found in combination with iron. The most important manganese ore is pyrolusite. Manganese is primarily used in the iron and steel industry.
(v) Copper: Copper is a metallic element which is used for many things, for example making electric wires, pipes and in 1p and 2p coins. Copper is sometimes used on roof tops. Overtime, weather such as wind and rain can change the colour to green. Copper is good for use with electricity, but it is very expensive.
(vi) Gold: Gold is primarily found as the pure, native metal. Sylvanite and calaverite are gold-bearing minerals. Gold is usually found embedded in quartz veins, or placer stream gravel. It is mined in South Africa, the USA (Nevada, Alaska), Russia, Australia and Canada.
(vii) Petroleum and Natural Gas: Petroleum is also referred to as crude oil or simply oil. Natural gas is a mixture of gases, the majority of which is methane. Natural gas is sometimes simply referred to as “gas.” Natural gas is discovered underground in the same way that petroleum.
(viii) Limestone: Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed principally of calcium carbonate (calcite) or the double carbonate of calcium and magnesium (dolomite). It is commonly composed of tiny fossils, shell fragments and other fossilised debris.
(ix) Phosphates: Phosphate deposits are found in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. These deposits are crucial for the production of fertilisers.
7. Describe the non-conventional energy sources recently developed in the country.
Ans: India has been making significant strides in the development and utilisation of non-conventional or renewable energy sources to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impacts.
Here are some non-conventional energy sources that have been recently developed or expanded in the country:
(i) Solar Energy: Solar energy is any type of energy generated by the sun. Solar energy is created by nuclear fusion that takes place in the sun. Fusion occurs when protons of hydrogen atoms violently collide in the sun’s core and fuse to create a helium atom.
(ii) Wind Energy: Wind energy, or wind power, is created using a wind turbine, a device that channels the power of the wind to generate electricity. The wind blows the blades of the turbine, which are attached to a rotor. The rotor then spins a generator to create electricity.
(iii) Hydropower: Hydroelectric energy, also called hydroelectric power or hydroelectricity, is a form of energy that harnesses the power of water in motion—such as water flowing over a waterfall—to generate electricity. People have used this force for millennia.
(iv) Biomass Energy: Biomass is organic, meaning it is made of material that comes from living organisms, such as plants and animals. The most common biomass materials used for energy are plants, wood, and waste. These are called biomass feedstocks. Biomass energy can also be a nonrenewable energy source.
(v) Geothermal Energy: Geothermal energy is heat within the earth. The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth. People use geothermal heat for bathing, for heating buildings, and for generating electricity.
(vi) Tidal and Wave Energy: Tidal energy is a renewable energy powered by the natural rise and fall of ocean tides and currents. Some of these technologies include turbines and paddles. Tidal energy is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides.
Other Textual Questions & Answer
1. Choose the right answers of the followings from the given options:
(i) In which one of the following are states the major oil fields located?
(a) Assam.
(b) Bihar.
(c) Rajasthan.
(d) Tamil Nadu.
Ans: (a) Assam.
(ii) At which one of the following places was the first atomic power station started?
(a) Kalpakkam.
(b) Narora.
(c) Rana Pratap Sagar.
(d) Tarapur.
Ans: (d) Tarapur.
(iii) Which one of the following mineral is known as brown diamond?
(a) Iron.
(b) Lignite.
(c) Manganese.
(d) Mica.
Ans: (b) Lignite.
(iv) Which one of the following is non-renewable source of energy?
(a) Hydel.
(b) Solar.
(c) Thermal.
(d) Wind power.
Ans: (c) Thermal.
(v) The total value of minerals mined in 2006 is Rs.:
(a) 5.30 billion.
(b) 6.30 billion.
(c) 4.30 billion.
(d) 8.30 billion.
Ans: (a) 5.30 billion.
(ii) The total production of petroleum in India is:
(a) 4.24 crore tonnes.
(b) 3.24 crore tonnes.
(c) 2.24 crore tonnes.
(d) 5 crore tonnes.
Ans: (b) 3.24 crore tonnes.
(iii) The total production of iron ore in India is:
(a) 7.5 crore tonnes.
(b) 6.5 crore tonnes.
(c) 8 crore tonnes.
(d) 10 crore tonnes.
Ans: (a) 7.5 crore tonnes.
(iv) The largest oil refinery in India is:
(a) Barauni.
(b) Jamnagar.
(c) Cochi.
(d) Haldia.
Ans: (b) Jamnagar.
(v) In India the largest oil producing area is:
(a) Mumbai High.
(b) Assam.
(c) Tripura.
(d) Ankleshwar.
Ans: (a) Mumbai High.
(vi) The number of minerals mined in India is:
(a) 68
(b) 60
(c) 70
(d) 80
Ans: (a) 68.
2. Give one word answer:
(i) The type of geological rock formation where occurrences of petroleum are found.
Ans: Tertiary.
(ii) The main energy source in India.
Ans: Coal.
(iii) The year of nationalisation of the coal industry.
Ans: 1972.
(iv) The oldest oil field of India.
Ans: Digboi (Assam).
(v) The first offshore oil field and the most important oil field in the country.
Ans: Mumbai High.
(vi) The biggest oil refinery in the country.
Ans: Reliance Petroleum Limited (Jamnagar, Gujarat).
(vii) The principal iron ore producing state in the country.
Ans: Chhattisgarh.
(viii) The chief raw material for the manufacturing of aluminium.
Ans: Bauxite.
(ix) The largest bauxite producer state in India.
Ans: Orissa.
(x) The only nuclear power dominated region/state of India.
Ans: Rajasthan.
2. Answer the following question in not more than 30 words:
(i) Give an account of the distribution of mica in India.
Or
Describe the production of Mica in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Ans: India has monopoly in production of mica producing about 60% of the world’s total production. About 95% of India’s mica is found in just three states of Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Jharkhand: Jharkhand has richest belt and accounts for 60% of India’s production in terms of value. Mica is found in a belt extending about 150 km in length and 32 km in width from Gaya to Hazaribagh and Koderma. Kodarma is a well known place for mica production in Jharkhand.
Andhra Pradesh: This is second largest producer and accounts for 25% of India’s mica. The areas are in Nellore district. It is 97 km. long and 30 km. wide.
Rajasthan: The mica belt extends from Jaipur to Udaipur. This is 322 km. long with an average width of 96 cm. The major mica producers are Bhilwara, Jaipur, Tonk, Sikar, Dungarpur and Ajmer.
(ii) What is nuclear power? Mention the important nuclear power stations in India.
Ans: The power obtained by splitting atoms called nuclear power. India has six nuclear power stations.
Among them important stations are as follows:
1. Tarapur (Maharashtra).
2. Kota (Rajasthan).
3. Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu).
4. Narora (Uttar Pradesh).
(iii) Name non-ferrous metal. Discuss their spatial distribution.
Ans: Non-ferrous metals are as under:
1. Bauxite: It is used in manufacturing of aluminium. Bauxite is found mainly in tertiary rocks. It is mainly found in Orissa and Jharkhand.
(i) Orissa: It is largest producing states. Kalahandi, Sambalpur are the leading producers. Other areas are Bolangir and Koraput.
(ii) Jharkhand: It has rich deposits in Lohardaga.
Other states are: Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
2. Copper: It is used in electric industries for making wires, motors, Transformers etc. It is found in Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Balaghat (M.P.), and Jhunjhunu and Alwar (Rajasthan).
Other areas are in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
3. Mica: It is used in electrical and electronic industries. It is found in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan followed by Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
(iv) What are non-conventional sources of energy?
Ans: The energy sources which are different from conventional sources of energy (such as coal, petroleum and natural gas) is called non-conventional sources of energy. Example, solar energy, biomass and wind energy etc.
