Class XII – Mineral and Energy Resources – PYQs

Ans. The major characteristics of mineral resources are

(i) Their distribution over the earth’s surface is uneven i.e. some regions have rich minerals, whereas others lack behind in availability of minerals.

(ii) Minerals of good quality are less in amount and minerals of low quality are more in amount on earth. Thus, quality and quantity of minerals have an inverse relationship.

(iii) Minerals are exhaustible, i.e. once used they can’t be used again. Minerals take long time to develop geologically and once they get exhausted, they cannot be replenished immediately at the time of need.

Ans. India is a rich country in terms of minerals. However, there is uneven distribution of mineral and energy resources in country

For example,

● Most of the metallic minerals occur in the Peninsular Plateau region in the old crystalline rocks.

● River valleys of Damodar, Sone, Mahanadi and Godavari have over 97% of coal reserves in India.

● Sedimentary basins of Assam and offshore region in the Arabian Sea (Gujarat and Mumbai High) are famous for their crude petroleum reserves.

● The area to the East of a line joining Mangaluru and Kanpur has most of the major mineral resources of India.

● Mineral are mainly concentrated in three broad belts, namely, the North-Eastern Plateau region, the South-Western Plateau region and the North-Western Plateau region.

Ans. The minerals belts of India are

● The North-Eastern Plateau Region: This belt includes the regions of Chhotanagpur (Jharkhand), Odisha plateau, West Bengal and parts of Chhattisgarh. Important minerals here are iron ore, coal, manganese, bauxite and mica.

● The South-Western Plateau Region: This belt includes Karnataka, Goa and contiguous uplands of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Ferrous metals and bauxite are concentrated here along with high grade iron ore, manganese and limestone. Neyveli has lignite coal deposits. Deposits of Monazite sand and thorium are found in Kerala. Mines of iron-ore are located in Goa.

● The North-Western Region: Minerals of this belt are associated with Dharwar rock system found in the Aravali ranges of Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. Major minerals found in this region are copper and zinc. Rajasthan is rich in building stones i.e. sandstone, granite, marble, fuller’s earth and gypsum.

Ans. The two advantages of manganese are

(i) It can be easily used as a raw material due to its properties.

(ii) It is found abundantly in almost all geological formations.

Four manganese producing states of India are

(i) Odisha: It is the leading manganese producer in India. Important mines are located in the districts of Bonai, Kendujhar, Sundergarh, Gangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi and Bolangir.

(ii) Karnataka: Important mines are located in Dharwar, Bellary, Belgaum, North Canara, Chikmagalur, Shivamogga, Chitradurg and Tumkuru districts.

(iii) Maharashtra: Manganese mines are found in Bhandara, Nagpur and Ratnagiri districts.

(iv) Madhya Pradesh: Mines are located in a belt that extends through Balaghat, Chhindwara, Nimar-Mandla and Jhabua districts.

Ans. The advantages of copper are

(i) Copper, due to its alloyable, malleable and ductile properties, is mostly use in electrical industry for making wires, electric motors, transformers and generators.

(ii) To give strength to jewelleries, copper is also mixed with gold.

Four copper producing regions of India are

(i) Copper deposits are mainly found in Singhbhum district in Jharkhand.

(ii) It is found in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.

(iii) Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan are producers of copper.

(iv) Agnigundala in Guntar district of Andhra Pradesh. Chitradurg and Hassan districts of Karnataka and South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu are other producers of copper ore.

Ans. It is true that promotion of the use of non-conventional sources of energy in India is the need of the hour due to the following reasons

● Unlike conventional sources of energy, most of the non-conventional energy sources are cheaper and renewable. The limitation and scarcity of fossil fuels have given rise to the urgent need for using the alternative energy sources such as renewable non-conventional energy resources.

● Power from non-conventional and renewable sources is must in order to reduce Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the coal-based power plants. Non-conventional resources are environment friendly.

● Locally available non-conventional and renewable power resources like wind and solar can meet local rural energy needs with minimum costs.

Thus, non-conventional energy resources will ensure sustainable development by meeting the needs of the present generation without harming the needs of future generation.

Ans. Wind energy is a non-conventional source of energy. The advantages of wind energy are

(i) Wind energy is a clean fuel source. It does not pollute the air as compared to conventional sources like coal.

(ii) Wind energy is one of the low-cost renewable energy technologies available today. Even without government subsidies, wind energy is a low-cost fuel in many areas of the country.

Four wind power producing states of India are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Ans. Bio-energy refers to energy derived from biological product which includes agricultural residues, municipal, industrial and other wastes. It is necessary to develop bio-energy in India because

● It is a potential source of energy conversion and can be converted into electrical energy, heat energy or gas for cooking food.

● It can solve the problem of garbage and waste in urban areas as energy can be derived from wastes.

● It can contribute to improving economic life of rural people in developing countries.

● It will enhance self-reliance and can reduce pressure on fuel wood and reduce oil imports.

Ans. Hydel power is one of the important renewable sources of energy. Here electricity is generated by using potential energy of water. It is more sustained, eco-friendly and cheaper energy after initial cost is taken care of.

India has one of the world’s largest potential for hydroelectric power. Its potential is around 84,000 MW. The Brahmaputra basin has the largest possible capacity of hydro power in India followed by Indus and Ganges basin. First hydroelectric power plants were set up in Darjeeling (West Bengal) and Shivasamudram (Karnataka) in 1897 and 1902, respectively. States like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, etc. are the major producers of hydropower generation in India.

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is responsible for planning and promoting efficient development of hydroelectric power in the country.

Ans. Conservation of minerals is more important than other resources due to the following reasons

(i) Minerals are important as large number industries are dependent for raw materials completely on minerals. We are rapidly consuming mineral resources which require millions of years to form.

(ii) Minerals are in insufficient quantities and are exhaustible.

(iii) Mineral conservation is necessary because once they get exhausted, it will be difficult to find other resources to take their place. Economic and industrial development of a country depends on minerals.

Ans. The methods of conservation of mineral resources in India are

(i) Adoption of renewable resources in place of exhaustible resources, like solar power, wind, wave, geothermal energy can save our non-renewable resources.

(ii) Use of recycled scrap metals should be encouraged. It can save the mining of newer metals. In India, scope of recycling scarce metallic minerals like zinc, copper, lead is more because India lacks behind in the availability of these minerals.

(iii) Substitutes for some precious and scarce metals should be encouraged. It can reduce their consumption.

Ans. Minerals are classified on the basis of their physical properties and chemical properties such as

(i) Metallic Minerals: Metallic minerals are those that are rich in metals. They are used to obtain a variety of metals like copper, gold, iron, etc. Bauxite, iron ore are some examples of metallic minerals. There are two types of metallic minerals i.e. ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous minerals include iron, manganese etc. Non-ferrous minerals include copper, bauxite etc.

(ii) Non-metallic Minerals: Non-metallic minerals are those that do not have metal components. Non-metallic minerals are mica, limestone, graphite etc.

Features of the three mineral belts are

(i) North-Eastern Plateau Region

● It covers Chhotanagpur in Jharkhand, Odisha Plateau, West Bengal and parts of Chhattisgarh.

● It contains minerals such as Iron-ore, coal, manganese, bauxite and mica.

(ii) South-Western Plateau Region

● It extends over Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu uplands and Kerala.

● It is rich in ferrous minerals and iron-ore, manganese and limestone. It also contains Neyveli lignite coal.

(iii) North-Western Region

● It extends along Aravalli in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.

● Minerals are associated with Dharwar system of rocks. Minerals found here include copper, zinc, sandstone, granite and marble.

Ans. The uses of manganese are

● It is used as a raw material in iron and steel industry for smelting of iron-ore.

● It is used in the manufacturing of ferro alloys.

The manganese deposits are mainly found in the rock of Dharwar system. It’s statewise distribution is

● Odisha: It is the largest manganese producer in the country. Most of the manganese mines are located in central part of the iron-ore belt in the state. The mines are located in the districts of Bonai, Kendujhar, Sundergarh, Gangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi and Bolangir.

● Karnataka: Dharwar, Bellary, Belgaum (Belagavi), North Canara, Chikkmagaluru, Shivamogga, Chitradurg and Tumakuru are districts having major manganese mines.

● Madhya Pradesh Most of the manganese mines in Madhya Pradesh are located in the belt of Balaghat-Chhindwara-Nimar-Mandla and Jhabua districts.

● Maharashtra: In Maharashtra manganese mines are situated away from iron and steel plants. The main mines are located in the districts of Bhandara, Nagpur and Ratnagiri.

Other manganese producing states are Telangana, Goa and Jharkhand.

Ans. All petroleum products are obtained from crude oil. Crude oil is found in sedimentary rocks of tertiary age. In India, Digboi was the only crude oil producing region before Independence.

In 1956, after foundation of Oil and Natural Gas Commission, excavation of oil resources started at a faster pace. In recent years, new oil deposits have been found at the extreme Western and Eastern parts of the country. The distribution of crude oil or petroleum resources in India is

● North-Eastern Region: It is the oldest oil producing region of India. It extends over vast area in upper Assam valley and Arunachal Pradesh. Important oil fields are Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran, Rudrasagar, etc.

● Gujarat Region: The major oil fields of this region are Ankleshwar, Kalol, Nawagam, etc.

● Mumbai High: It is an oil bearing region about 160 km North-West off the Mumbai coast in the Arabian sea.

● East-Coastal Region: This region extends over the Krishna, Godavari and Kaveri basin.

● Western Region: Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Nawagam etc are important oil producing regions in Gujarat.

Ans. Non-conventional energy resources involve higher costs in setting up of large plants and equipments. If this cost is taken care of by providing subsidies, discounts and monetary support, the non-conventional energy resources will provide more sustained and environment friendly energy in the following ways

● Non-conventional energy sources are cheaper and renewable. The overall limitation and scarcity of conventional sources has given rise to the urgent need for exploiting alternative energy sources.

● Non-conventional sources are inexhaustible in nature and environment friendly. In comparison, conventional sources like thermal power plants create air and water pollution.

● Non-conventional energy can be made locally also even in small amounts depending upon local needs and availability of resources. This reduces transportation cost.

● Non-conventional energy sources are solar energy wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy etc. These are easily available in the country and can be harnessed with the help of modern technology. These sources are capable of regeneration. These can be renewed along with exploitation and hence, always available for us.

Ans. Conservation of minerals resources is essential for development of India because of the following reasons

● In India, mineral resources are unevenly distributed throughout the country, if these resources get extinct, then it will a huge challenge to fulfil domestic requirement.

● Its conservation is important as large number of industries are dependent completely on mineral resources.

● If mineral resources are not conserved, then we have to import them from other countries which will put huge economical pressure.

● The formation of minerals takes number of years. Moreover, they finite and non-renewable. Once finished, they take millions of years for their replenishment.

● Every country has a moral responsibility to conserve resources for the future generation, so that, they can also use them for their development.