Chapter 5 Minerals and Energy Resources

Overview

This chapter discusses minerals and energy resources, emphasizing their vital role in human life and economic development. It defines minerals and classifies them based on origin (biotic, abiotic), exhaustibility (renewable, non-renewable), ownership (individual, community, national, international), and development status (potential, developed, stock, reserves). The chapter details the occurrence and distribution of major minerals in India, including ferrous (iron ore, manganese) and non-ferrous (copper, bauxite) metals, as well as non-metallic minerals (mica, limestone). It also addresses the environmental hazards of mining and the necessity of mineral conservation. Finally, it categorizes energy resources into conventional (coal, petroleum, natural gas, electricity) and non-conventional sources (solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas) and stresses the importance of energy conservation for sustainable development.

What Is A Mineral?

Minerals are naturally occurring, homogeneous substances with a definable internal structure. They vary greatly in hardness, from diamond to talc, and possess different physical and chemical properties based on their formation conditions.

Mode Of Occurrence Of Minerals

Minerals are typically found in "ores," which are accumulations of minerals mixed with other elements. Their concentration determines economic viability. Minerals occur in various geological formations:

• Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks: Found in veins and lodes within cracks, faults, or joints, formed when molten minerals rise and cool.
• Sedimentary Rocks: Found in beds or layers, formed through deposition and concentration over time (e.g., coal, iron ore, gypsum).
• Decomposition of Rocks: Residual masses left after soluble constituents are removed (e.g., bauxite).
• Alluvial Deposits: Found in sands of valley floors and bases of hills (placer deposits), often containing gold, silver, and platinum.
• Ocean Waters and Beds: Contain vast quantities of minerals like common salt, magnesium, bromine, and manganese nodules, though often diffused.

Ferrous Minerals

These account for about three-fourths of the metallic mineral production and are crucial for metallurgical industries.

• Iron Ore: Essential for industrial development; India has abundant high-quality reserves (magnetite, hematite). Major belts include Odisha-Jharkhand, Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur (Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra), Ballari-Chitradurga-Tumakuru (Karnataka), and Maharashtra-Goa.
• Manganese: Primarily used in steel and ferro-manganese alloy manufacturing; also used in paints and insecticides. Major producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

Non-Ferrous Minerals

India's reserves of non-ferrous minerals are less satisfactory but vital for various industries.

• Copper: Critical for electrical and electronic industries due to its malleability and conductivity. Major producers are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
• Bauxite: The ore from which aluminium is extracted, known for its lightness, strength, and conductivity. Major deposits are found in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

Non-Metallic Minerals

These do not contain iron.

• Mica: Valued for its insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, used extensively in electrical and electronic industries. Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are major producers.

Rock Minerals

• Limestone: Found in sedimentary rocks, it's a key raw material for cement and smelting iron ore. Major producers include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh.

Hazards Of Mining

Mining poses significant risks to miners (pulmonary diseases, accidents) and the environment (land degradation, water pollution, deforestation). Strict safety regulations and environmental laws are necessary to mitigate these impacts.

Conservation Of Minerals

Minerals are finite and non-renewable. Sustainable use requires careful planning, improved technology for low-grade ores, recycling of metals, and using substitutes to conserve resources for the future.

Energy Resources

Energy is essential for all activities. Resources are classified as:

• Conventional Sources: Firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas, and electricity (hydro and thermal). Coal is abundant in India, vital for power and industry, found mainly in Gondwana and Tertiary rock formations. Petroleum is found offshore (Mumbai High) and in Assam and Gujarat. Natural gas is a cleaner fuel with significant reserves in the Krishna-Godavari basin.
• Non-Conventional Sources: Renewable sources like solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, and biogas energy. India has vast potential for solar and wind energy, particularly in the South and Rajasthan. Biogas provides energy and improved manure from organic waste.

Conservation Of Energy Resources

Given the increasing energy demand and the environmental issues associated with fossil fuels, promoting energy conservation and the use of renewable sources is crucial for sustainable development. India needs to improve energy efficiency and adopt sustainable energy practices.