minerals and resources

Three features A, B and C are marked on the given political outline map of

India. Identify them with the help of following information and write their correct

names

A. Important bauxite deposits in Orissa.

B. Mica belt in Andhra Pradesh

C. Coal mine

Answer explanation

A. Important bauxite deposits in Orissa – Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput

district.

B. Mica belt in Andhra Pradesh – Nellore Mica belt of Andhra Pradesh

C. Coal mine –Bokaro in Jharkhand

Two features A and B are marked on the given political map of India.

Identify them with the help of following information and write their correct names

A. Name the state in which the Kudremukh iron-ore mines are located.

B. A port from where ore is expected to Japan

Answer explanation

: A. Name the state in which the Kudremukh iron-ore mines are located –

Western Ghats of Karnataka

B. A port from where ore is expected to Japan – Visakhapatnam port

Name the ore from which aluminium is obtained. Why is aluminium

considered to be an important metal? Name the areas which have rich deposits of

the ore of aluminium.

Answer explanation

Aluminium is obtained from the Bauxite Ore. There are many ores that

contain aluminium but Bauxite is clay-like substance from which alumina and later

aluminium are acquired. It is formed by the decomposition of the different types of rocks

which contains aluminium silicates.

Aluminium is considered to be an important metal because it contains the

strength of the metal like iron. It has good conductivity, great malleability and is

extremely light.

The areas which have rich deposits of the ore of aluminium are – Amarkantak Plateau,

Maikal hills, plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni. According to the country’s total

production of 2000-2001, Orissa is the largest Bauxite producing state in India and

the most important Bauxite deposit are the Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput

district.

Why is there a pressing need to use non-conventional sources of energy in

India? Give three reasons.

Answer explanation

Non-conventional sources of energy are those forms of energy which is

renewable and unlimited. It doesn’t cause environmental pollution. Solar energy, Wind,

Tide, Biomass and energy from waste material are the non-conventional sources of

energy. Various reasons to prove why it is necessary to use non-conventional sources

of energy –

• As the country is developing, the consumption of energy is also growing which led to

an increase in the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. This caused serious

environmental problems.

• As the prices of the oil and gas are increasing and also, increasing usage of such

energy sources might lead to its shortage which will affect the security of energy supply

for the future generation.

• This will cause various consequences on the growth of the national economy of the

country.

What are the uses of copper? Name the two leading copper production

states of India.

Answer explanation

Even though India has rich and varied minerals available the availability and

production of copper were poor.

The various uses of Copper are as follows:

• Copper consist the quality like ductility and malleability.

• It is also a good conductor of heat and electricity.

• Copper as a mineral is mainly used in electrical cables, electronics and chemical

industries.

The two leading copper production states of India are – 52% of India’s copper is

produced in the Balaghat mine in Madhya Pradesh and another leading producing of

copper is Singbhum district of Jharkhand. Also, Khetri mines in Rajasthan are the

popular copper mines of India.

Mineral resources in India are unevenly distributed.” Support the

statements with three suitable examples.

Answer explanation

Yes, it is true that “Mineral resources in India are unevenly distributed.” India is

one such country which acquires rich and different types of mineral resources. The

uneven distribution is due to the fact that India as a country has variation in Geological

structure, processes and difference in time involved in the formation of minerals. Three

examples to support this statement are as follows:

• The majority of the coal reserves, metallic minerals, Mica and other non-metallic

minerals are found in peninsular rocks.

• Most of the petroleum deposits are found sedimentary rocks in the Western and

Eastern flanks of the Peninsula, in Gujarat and Assam.

• Reserves of the non-ferrous minerals are found in Rajasthan with the rock systems of

the Peninsula. Moreover, there is a lack of economic minerals in the vast alluvial plains

of North India

What are ores? Give example. What are ‘placer deposits’? Give example of

mineral found in such deposits.

Answer explanation

The term ‘Ores’ is referred to the gathering of such minerals which are

mixed with other elements. To make its extraction sodium salt, the mineral content

should be in sufficient concentration of the ore. For example – Iron ore is the basic

mineral with excellent magnetic qualities. India is one such country with good quality of

iron ores. Magnetite and Hematite are the finest and important industrial iron ores

respectively.

‘Placer deposits’ have those minerals which are not destroyed by the water.

These are such minerals which are found as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors

and the base of hills. Minerals found in such deposits are Gold, Silver, Tin and

Platinum.

Which minerals are indispensable for electric and electronic industries?

Answer explanation

Mica is one of the minerals which is indispensable for electric and electronic

industries. It is a mineral formed by the series of plates or leaves and can be clear,

black, green, red, yellow or brown. Mica mineral easily splits into thin sheets which can

be layered into a mica sheet of a few centimetres high. It is indispensable for electric

and electronic industries because of excellent Di- electric strength, low power loss

factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.

Mica is usually found in the Northern edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and the leading

producer of Mica is the Koderma Gaya – Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand. Ajmer in

Rajasthan is another leading Mica producing area. Another important producer is the

Nellore Mica belt of Andhra Pradesh

Give two examples of non-metallic minerals.

Answer explanation

Non-metallic minerals are those minerals which don’t include the qualities

of the metallic minerals like density, malleable, ductile and good conductor of

heat and electricity. For example – Salt and Potash

NOTE – other examples are – Mica, Sulphur, Granite, Limestone, Marble, Sandstone,

etc.

The main iron ore exporting ports in India

• Vishakhapatnam

• Madurai