Chapter 3 MINERAL AND POWER RESOURCES

Minerals

Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition, identified by their physical properties like color, density, hardness, and chemical properties like solubility. They are concentrated in specific areas and are formed through natural processes without human intervention. Rocks containing minerals are called ores.

Types Of Minerals

Minerals are broadly classified into two main categories:

• Metallic Minerals: These contain metals in raw form and are hard, conduct heat and electricity, and possess a characteristic shine. They can be ferrous (containing iron, e.g., iron ore, manganese) or non-ferrous (not containing iron, e.g., gold, silver, copper, lead).
• Non-metallic Minerals: These do not contain metals. Examples include limestone, mica, and gypsum. Mineral fuels like coal and petroleum are also categorized as non-metallic minerals.

Extraction Of Minerals

Minerals are extracted from the Earth's crust through mining (open-cast mining for shallow deposits and shaft mining for deep deposits), drilling (for petroleum and natural gas), and quarrying (for minerals near the surface).

Distribution Of Minerals

Minerals are found in various rock formations: metallic minerals are typically in igneous and metamorphic rocks of plateaus, while non-metallic minerals like limestone are in sedimentary rocks of plains and young fold mountains. Mineral fuels are also found in sedimentary strata. Continents like Asia (China, India), Europe (Russia, Sweden), North America (Canada, USA), South America (Brazil, Chile), Africa (South Africa, Nigeria), Australia, and Antarctica have significant mineral deposits.

Uses Of Minerals

Minerals are vital for industries. Precious metals like gold and silver are used in jewelry. Copper is used in coins and pipes. Silicon, derived from quartz, is used in the computer industry. Aluminum, extracted from bauxite, is used in automobiles, airplanes, and cookware.

Conservation Of Minerals

Minerals are non-renewable resources with a much slower formation rate than their consumption rate. Conserving them involves reducing wastage during mining, recycling metals, and using them judiciously.

Power Resources

Power or energy is essential for daily life, industry, agriculture, transport, and communication. Power resources are classified into conventional and non-conventional sources.

Conventional Sources

These have been in common use for a long time and include firewood and fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas). Fossil fuels, formed over millions of years from buried organic matter, are finite and their consumption causes environmental pollution. Coal, the most abundant fossil fuel, is used for domestic purposes, industry, and generating thermal power. Petroleum, or "black gold," is refined into various products like diesel and petrol. Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits and is used as fuel. The increasing consumption of fossil fuels is leading to depletion and pollution, necessitating a shift to cleaner alternatives.

Hydel Power

Hydel power is generated from the energy of falling water stored in dams. The force of the water turns turbines connected to generators, producing electricity. Approximately one-fourth of the world's electricity comes from hydel power, with leading producers including Paraguay, Norway, Brazil, and China.

Non-conventional Sources of Energy

These are renewable and cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, crucial for mitigating energy shortages and environmental pollution. They include solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, nuclear power, geothermal energy, and biogas.

Solar Energy

Solar energy, derived from the sun's heat and light, is trapped by solar cells to produce electricity and used for heating and lighting. It is a beneficial resource for tropical countries with ample sunshine.

Wind Energy

Wind is an inexhaustible energy source. Windmills, rotated by high-speed winds, generate electricity. Wind farms, clusters of windmills, are found in windy coastal regions and mountain passes. Countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and the USA are prominent in wind energy production.

Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is generated from the energy stored in radioactive elements like uranium and thorium through nuclear fission in reactors. The USA and European countries are major producers. India has significant uranium reserves in Rajasthan and Jharkhand and thorium in Kerala.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is heat from within the Earth, which can surface as hot springs and be used for power generation, cooking, heating, and bathing. The USA leads in geothermal power plants, followed by New Zealand and Iceland.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is generated from the movement of tides, harnessed by building dams at narrow sea openings. The force of the tides turns turbines to produce electricity. Russia, France, and India's Gulf of Kachchh have significant tidal energy potential.

Biogas

Biogas is produced from the decomposition of organic waste like dead plants, animal dung, and kitchen waste by bacteria in digesters. It is an efficient fuel for cooking and lighting and yields valuable organic manure.

Exercises

The chapter concludes with exercises that cover mineral and power resources. These include answering questions about common minerals, ore definition, natural gas distribution, suitable energy sources for different regions, and energy conservation methods. Activities involve identifying mineral characteristics and major producers, distinguishing between different types of resources and minerals, and conducting an energy audit in school to promote conservation habits.