Mineral And Power Resources (Basic)
Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring substances that have a definite chemical composition and a characteristic physical state. They are essential for human civilization, forming the backbone of industrial development and technological advancement. Minerals are found in the Earth's crust and are extracted through mining.
Types Of Minerals
Minerals can be broadly classified into two main categories based on their composition and formation:
- Metallic Minerals: These minerals contain metal. They are usually hard, possess a metallic lustre, conduct heat and electricity, and are malleable and ductile.
- Ferrous Minerals: Contain iron. Examples include iron ore (haematite, magnetite), manganese, and chromite. These are vital for steel production.
- Non-Ferrous Minerals: Do not contain iron but may contain other metals like copper, aluminium, lead, zinc, gold, silver, etc. Copper is used in electrical industries, aluminium in aircraft and utensil manufacturing, and precious metals in jewellery and electronics.
- Non-Metallic Minerals: These minerals do not contain metal. They are generally not hard, do not possess metallic lustre, and are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
- Examples: Mica (used in electrical industries), limestone (used in cement industry), dolomite, magnesite, gypsum, coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Coal and petroleum are often classified separately as mineral fuels.
Extraction Of Minerals
The process of taking out minerals from the earth is called mining. The method of mining depends on the type of mineral, the depth at which it occurs, and the nature of the deposit.
- Open-Cast Mining: Minerals that lie at shallow depths are extracted by removing the surface layer. This is also called surface mining.
- Underground Mining: Minerals that lie at great depths are extracted by sinking shafts to reach the ore and then using tunnels and galleries to extract the minerals. This is a more dangerous method, involving significant risks.
- Quarrying: Minerals like limestone, chalk, and sandstone are extracted by removing them from shallow pits called quarries.
Distribution Of Minerals
Minerals are unevenly distributed across the globe. Their occurrence is closely tied to geological structures, rock types, and the processes of rock formation.
- Iron Ore: Major deposits are found in India (Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka), Brazil, Australia, and Sweden.
- Coal: Major producers include China, USA, India, Australia, Indonesia, and Russia. Found in sedimentary rocks.
- Petroleum: Primarily found in sedimentary rocks of the tertiary period. Major producers include the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq), USA, Russia, and Venezuela. India has significant reserves in Assam, Gujarat, and offshore Mumbai High.
- Copper: Essential for electrical conductivity. Major producers include Chile, Peru, USA, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In India, it is found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
- Bauxite: The ore from which aluminium is extracted. Major producers include Australia, Guinea, Jamaica, Brazil, and India. In India, it is found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
- Mica: Found in India (Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh), Brazil, and China. It is a poor conductor of electricity and heat, making it valuable for the electrical and electronics industries.
- Limestone: Found in sedimentary rocks. Crucial for the cement industry. Major deposits are in India (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat), China, USA, and Brazil.
Uses Of Minerals
Minerals are indispensable for various human activities and industries:
- Metals: Used in machinery, vehicles, aircraft, utensils, jewellery, and construction.
- Fossil Fuels (Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas): Primary sources of energy for electricity generation, transportation, and industrial processes.
- Non-Metallic Minerals: Used in construction (limestone, gypsum), chemicals (salt, potash), fertilizers (phosphate), and electronics (mica).
Conservation Of Minerals
Minerals are non-renewable resources, and their reserves are finite. Indiscriminate use can lead to their depletion, posing challenges for future generations. Conservation is therefore essential.
- Recycling of Metals: Reusing scrap metal reduces the need for mining new ore.
- Using Substitute Materials: Exploring and using alternative materials that can replace scarce minerals.
- Improving Mining and Extraction Efficiency: Employing better technologies to extract more mineral from lower-grade ores, reducing waste.
- Reducing Consumption: Minimizing the use of mineral-intensive products and adopting more sustainable consumption patterns.
- Research and Development: Investing in research to find new mineral deposits and develop more efficient extraction and recycling technologies.
Power Resources
Power resources, also known as energy resources, are sources from which we can derive energy to power our homes, industries, and transportation. They are fundamental to economic development and modern life.
Conventional Sources
Conventional sources of energy are those that have been used for a long time and are widely available. They are generally non-renewable and contribute to pollution.
- Coal: A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed from accumulated vegetation over millions of years. It is a primary source of energy for thermal power plants and industrial heating. Major reserves are found in India in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
- Petroleum (Crude Oil): A fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms. It is a source of energy for transportation (petrol, diesel, kerosene) and a raw material for many industries (plastics, pharmaceuticals). Major reserves in India are in Assam, Gujarat, and offshore areas like Mumbai High.
- Natural Gas: A fossil fuel often found alongside petroleum deposits. It is used for power generation, domestic cooking (LPG), and as a feedstock for chemical industries. Found in Krishna Godavari basin, Tripura, and Rajasthan in India.
- Electricity: Generated from conventional sources like thermal power (burning coal, gas), and also from non-conventional sources.
Hydel Power
Hydel power or hydroelectricity is generated from moving water. Dams are built across rivers to store water, and the force of falling water is used to rotate turbines connected to generators, producing electricity. It is a renewable source of energy and has the advantage of providing power without burning fossil fuels, thus reducing pollution.
Advantages: Renewable, clean energy, provides irrigation and flood control.
Disadvantages: High initial cost of construction, displacement of people, ecological impact on river ecosystems.
Major Hydel Power Projects in India: Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud, Damodar Valley Project.
Non-conventional Sources Of Energy
Non-conventional sources of energy are those that are renewable and have less environmental impact compared to conventional sources. They are increasingly being promoted to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is derived from sunlight. Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight directly into electricity, while solar thermal systems use sunlight to heat water or generate steam for power production. India, with its tropical location, receives abundant sunshine throughout the year, making solar energy a significant potential resource.
Advantages: Renewable, clean, widely available, decreasing costs.
Disadvantages: Intermittent (depends on sunlight), high initial investment (though decreasing).
Usage: Power generation, water heating, cooking.
Wind Energy
Wind energy is generated by harnessing the kinetic energy of wind using wind turbines. Wind farms, consisting of many turbines, are set up in areas with consistent and strong winds. Coastal regions and open plains are ideal locations.
Advantages: Renewable, clean, cost-effective once established.
Disadvantages: Intermittent (depends on wind speed), visual and noise pollution, potential impact on bird populations.
Major Wind Energy Producers in India: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan.
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power is generated from the energy released during nuclear reactions, typically fission of radioactive elements like Uranium and Thorium. Nuclear power plants are efficient in generating large amounts of electricity from a small amount of fuel.
Advantages: High energy output, low greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
Disadvantages: High initial cost, radioactive waste disposal challenges, risk of accidents, security concerns.
Nuclear Power Plants in India: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), Kakrapar (Gujarat).
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is heat derived from the Earth's interior. It can be used directly for heating or to generate electricity by using the hot water and steam from underground reservoirs to drive turbines.
Advantages: Renewable, reliable, low emissions.
Disadvantages: Site-specific, potential release of gases, high initial investment.
Potential Areas in India: Puga Valley (Ladakh), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh).
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is generated from the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational forces of the moon and sun. Tidal barrages are built across estuaries or bays to capture the energy of tidal currents to drive turbines.
Advantages: Renewable, predictable.
Disadvantages: Site-specific (requires suitable tidal ranges), high construction costs, potential ecological impact on marine ecosystems.
Potential Areas in India: Gulf of Cambay, Gulf of Kutch, Sundarbans.
Biogas
Biogas is produced from the decomposition of organic matter (like animal dung, plant residues, human waste) in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic digestion). Biogas plants produce a mixture of gases, primarily methane and carbon dioxide, which can be used for cooking, heating, and electricity generation.
Advantages: Renewable, reduces waste, provides fuel for cooking and lighting, produces organic manure.
Disadvantages: Requires a steady supply of organic waste, efficiency depends on proper plant operation.
Usage: Widely used in rural India for domestic energy needs.