7. Mineral and Energy Resources

Competency Based Questions:

1. Which statement best distinguishes a mineral resource from an energy resource?

a) A mineral resource is always metallic, while an energy resource is always non-metallic.

b) A mineral resource is valued mainly for its physical/chemical properties, while an energy resource is valued mainly for its ability to provide usable power.

c)Mineral resources are renewable, while energy resources are always non-renewable.

d) A mineral resource is used only for construction, while an energy resource is used only for transportation.

Ans: b) A mineral resource is valued mainly for its physical/chemical properties, while an energy resource is valued mainly for its ability to provide usable power. Mineral resources are extracted because their composition or structure is useful—for example, iron ore for making steel, or halite for salt. Their value lies in how they can be transformed into materials, products, or chemicals. Energy resources, like coal, oil, natural gas, solar, and wind, are valued because they can be converted into forms of energy such as electricity, heat, or mechanical work. While some substances (like uranium or coal) can be both minerals and energy sources, the key distinction lies in whether the primary purpose is to use the material itself or to harness the energy it can yield.

2. Why is coal classified as a non-renewable energy resource?

a)It takes millions of years to form from plant material, and current consumption far exceeds its rate of formation.

b) It is found only in one or two countries, making it rare.

c) It can only be used one time and then disappears completely from the Earth.

d) It cannot be burned without producing any emissions.

Ans: a) It takes millions of years to form from plant material, and current consumption far exceeds its rate of formation. Coal originates from dense accumulations of plant material that were buried in ancient swamps and then transformed under heat and pressure into peat and eventually coal over geological periods. This formation process is so slow that, compared with how fast we mine and burn coal today, it might as well not be happening. This mismatch in timescales is the core reason coal is considered non-renewable: once we deplete accessible reserves, they will not be replaced within any meaningful human timeframe. Understanding this helps explain concerns about long-term energy security and the push toward renewable alternatives.

3. A country with limited domestic fossil fuels wants to improve its long-term energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Which combination of strategies is most appropriate?

a) Rely primarily on imported oil and gas from a single, politically stable partner country.

b) Invest heavily in coal-fired power plants and subsidize gasoline to keep prices low.

c) Diversify into renewable sources like solar and wind, improve energy efficiency, and develop energy storage technologies.

d) Focus solely on building large hydropower dams, ignoring other renewable and efficiency options.

Ans: c) Diversify into renewable sources like solar and wind, improve energy efficiency, and develop energy storage technologies. For a country with limited fossil fuels, depending on imported fuels creates vulnerability to price shocks, supply disruptions, and geopolitical tensions. By investing in domestic renewable resources, the country can tap into energy that is abundant and naturally replenished. Improving efficiency, such as better building insulation and more efficient appliances, cuts waste and lowers overall energy demand. Storage technologies smooth out the intermittent nature of sources like wind and solar, helping ensure a stable supply. Together, these strategies support climate goals, reduce pollution, and strengthen long-term energy security.

4. Which of the following best describes an ore in the context of mineral resources?

a) Any rock that contains a metal, regardless of concentration or economic value.

b) Any mineral that appears in a crystalline form underground.

c) A naturally occurring rock or mineral from which a valuable substance can be profitably extracted under current technological and economic conditions.

d) A rock that has been artificially enriched with metals by human processing.

Ans: c) A naturally occurring rock or mineral from which a valuable substance can be profitably extracted under current technological and economic conditions. The concept of an ore is explicitly economic as well as geological. A deposit becomes an ore when the concentration of the desired material is high enough, and the extraction process is cheap and efficient enough, that mining can make a profit. This means that what counts as ore can change over time. Improved technology, like better processing techniques, can turn previously useless rock into a valuable ore. Likewise, changes in demand or commodity prices can upgrade or downgrade deposits. Understanding this helps explain why mining companies constantly re-evaluate their resource estimates.

5. Which mining method is most appropriate for a shallow, horizontal coal seam spread over a large area?

a) Deep shaft mining with vertical tunnels

b) Solution mining using injected fluids

c) Open-pit or strip mining

d) Underground room-and-pillar mining

Ans: c) Open-pit or strip mining. When a coal seam lies close to the surface and extends over a large, relatively flat area, surface mining techniques are usually preferred. In strip mining, miners remove the overburden in long strips, extract the coal beneath, and then often place the waste material back into the mined-out strip. This method is cost-effective because it avoids the need for complex underground infrastructure. It also allows for high production rates and the use of large equipment. However, it can lead to extensive landscape alteration, habitat disruption, and potential water pollution if not carefully managed and rehabilitated afterward.

6. Which statement best explains why uranium is often categorized as both a mineral resource and an energy resource?

a) Uranium is renewable because new uranium is constantly formed in Earth’s crust, so it acts like a perpetual energy resource.

b) Uranium is a mineral that is used mainly for producing nuclear energy, so it has value both for its material properties and as a source of energy when its nuclei are split.

c) Uranium can spontaneously turn into coal deep underground, making it a bridge between mineral and fossil energy.

d) Uranium is only used as a decorative gemstone, but its name comes from its potential energy value.

Ans: c) Uranium is a mineral that is used mainly for producing nuclear energy, so it has value both for its material properties and as a source of energy when its nuclei are split. In the Earth’s crust, uranium occurs in specific minerals that are extracted using mining techniques similar to those used for other metals. Once processed and enriched, certain isotopes of uranium, particularly, can sustain a controlled chain reaction in a nuclear reactor. In this process, the splitting (fission) of uranium nuclei releases heat, which is used to generate steam and drive turbines to produce electricity. Because uranium is a physical mineral material we mine and also a primary fuel that directly generates energy, it is appropriately labelled both a mineral resource and an energy resource.

7. Which of the following is a major environmental concern associated with large-scale open-pit metal mining?

a) The creation of artificial lakes that always increase local biodiversity.

b) Complete absence of any dust or particulate matter emissions from mining operations.

c) Acid mine drainage, where exposed sulfide minerals react with water and air to produce acidic runoff that can contaminate streams and groundwater.

d) Permanent elimination of all rainfall in the mined region.

Ans: c) Acid mine drainage, where exposed sulfide minerals react with water and air to produce acidic runoff that can contaminate streams and groundwater. In many metal mines, ores contain sulfide minerals such as pyrite. When these minerals are exposed to oxygen and water in waste rock piles or open pits, they can oxidize and form sulfuric acid. The acidic water then leaches metals like iron, copper, or arsenic from the rock, creating contaminated runoff. This polluted water can flow into streams, rivers, and groundwater, harming fish, plants, and potentially human communities downstream. Preventing and treating acid mine drainage requires careful planning, water treatment systems, and proper closure and reclamation practices.

8. Which scenario best illustrates the concept of “resource depletion” for a non-renewable mineral resource?

a)A country mines the mineral faster than new economically viable deposits are found, leading to a long-term decline in accessible reserves.

b) Technological advances allow the mineral to be recycled more efficiently, reducing the need for new mining.

c) The mineral is left entirely untouched underground and is never mine.

d) New exploration discovers additional deposits of the mineral, doubling the known reserves.

Ans: a) A country mines the mineral faster than new economically viable deposits are found, leading to a long-term decline in accessible reserves. Resource depletion involves drawing down the stock of a non-renewable resource so that remaining deposits are fewer, lower-grade, or more expensive to access. If mining continues at high rates without sufficient discovery of new deposits or dramatic technological breakthroughs, the economically recoverable portion of the resource shrinks. This can result in higher prices, supply constraints, and increased environmental impacts as companies are forced to mine lower-grade ores or more remote locations. Understanding depletion helps policymakers and businesses plan for efficiency, substitution, and recycling.

9. Which of the following energy sources is correctly matched with its classification and a key advantage?

a) Oil – renewable; it forms in a few decades from modern plant material.

b) Solar energy – renewable; it provides energy without direct fuel combustion and can reduce air pollution during operation.

c) Coal – renewable; it produces no carbon dioxide when burned.

d) Natural gas – non-renewable; it cannot be used to generate electricity.

Ans: b) Solar energy – renewable; it provides energy without direct fuel combustion and can reduce air pollution during operation. Solar power harnesses energy from the Sun, an ongoing natural process that will continue for billions of years, making it renewable on human timescales. Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials, with no burning of fuel. As a result, they do not release carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, or particulate matter during operation. While there are environmental impacts from manufacturing and disposing of solar panels, the operational emissions are very low. This clean electricity can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve air quality.

10. Which policy measure best supports sustainable management of both mineral and energy resources?

a) Promoting resource efficiency, recycling, and a transition toward cleaner and renewable energy sources.

b) Subsidizing wasteful consumption of electricity and fuels to keep consumer prices as low as possible.

c) Prohibiting all mining and energy development, regardless of societal needs.

d) Encouraging maximum extraction rates to boost short-term economic growth, regardless of environmental cost.

Ans: a) Promoting resource efficiency, recycling, and a transition toward cleaner and renewable energy sources. This approach aligns well with sustainability principles by reducing overall demand for raw extraction, lowering environmental footprints, and moving energy systems toward sources that are replenished naturally. Resource efficiency can involve better technology, smarter design, and behavioral changes that avoid waste. Recycling captures materials like metals from discarded products, decreasing the need for new mining. Transitioning to renewable energy lessens reliance on finite fossil fuels and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. Combined, these policies help balance economic development with environmental protection and intergenerational equity.

Subjective Questions:

1. Rationalize that mineral resources provide the country with the necessary base for industrial development.

Ans: Mineral resources form the essential foundation for a country’s industrial growth by supplying critical raw materials.

Role in Industry

Minerals like iron ore, manganese, and coal are vital for metallurgical industries, enabling steel production and manufacturing. They support sectors such as construction, energy, and infrastructure, acting as the backbone for economic expansion.

Indian Context

In India, ferrous minerals provide the base for metallurgical development, with regions like Chhota Nagpur rich in iron, coal, and manganese. This distribution fuels industries, from steel plants to power generation.

Competency Application

To rationalize: Without minerals, industries lack raw inputs for products like steel (from iron) or aluminum (from bauxite), stalling development—as seen in India’s mineral belts driving its industrial hubs.

2. Classify minerals into two groups based on chemical and physical properties.

Ans: Minerals are classified into two main groups based on their chemical and physical properties: Metallic (ferrous or non-ferrous) and non-metallic.

Metallic minerals

1. Ferrous Minerals

These contain iron and exhibit metallic properties like magnetism, malleability, and high density. Examples include iron ore (hematite, magnetite), manganese, and chromite, crucial for steel production.

1. Non-Ferrous Minerals

These lack iron, showing non-metallic traits such as brittleness, lower density, and varied luster. Examples include copper, bauxite (aluminum ore), gold, and mica, used in electronics and alloys.

Non-Metallic minerals

Non-metallic minerals are inorganic or organic natural substances that lack metallic properties such as luster, malleability, ductility, and high thermal/electrical conductivity. Key examples include limestone, gypsum, mica, salt, graphite, and diamond. They are critical industrial materials used in construction, cement production, agriculture (fertilizers), and ceramics.

3. Explain the characteristics of minerals.

Ans: Minerals exhibit distinct physical and chemical characteristics that define their identity, uses, and formation processes.

Physical Characteristics

These observable traits include color (influenced by impurities), streak (powdered color on porcelain), luster (light reflection: metallic or non-metallic), hardness (Mohs scale from 1-talc to 10-diamond), cleavage (breaking along flat planes), fracture (irregular breaks), and specific gravity (density relative to water). They arise from the mineral’s crystal structure and atomic bonding, aiding identification without altering the sample.

Chemical Characteristics

Minerals have a fixed chemical composition (e.g., quartz as SiO₂) and ordered crystalline structure, naturally occurring as inorganic solids. They show reactivity like solubility in acids, magnetism, or fluorescence, determined by elemental makeup.

4. Determine the mineral reserves and their distribution in the country.

Ans: India holds vast mineral reserves, with over 20,000 known deposits across more than 60 minerals, concentrated in three broad belts: North-Eastern Plateau (Chhota Nagpur, Odisha, Chhattisgarh), South-Western Plateau (Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu), and North-Western Region (Rajasthan, Gujarat).

Key Reserves and Distribution

Major reserves include iron ore (Odisha 1st, Jharkhand 2nd, Chhattisgarh 3rd; mines: Bailadila, Singhbhum), coal (Jharkhand’s Jharia largest; Odisha’s Talcher), manganese (Odisha, Karnataka), bauxite (Odisha, Gujarat), and mica (Andhra Pradesh 41%). Petroleum is in Assam, Gujarat, Mumbai High; copper in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh.

5. Describe the location, uses, and importance of ferrous, nonferrous, and non- metallic minerals.

Ans: India’s ferrous, non-ferrous, and non-metallic minerals play pivotal roles in industry, with distinct locations tied to geological belts.

Ferrous Minerals

These iron-containing minerals (e.g., iron ore: hematite/magnetite in Odisha-Jharkhand belt like Mayurbhanj, Noamundi; Bailadila in Chhattisgarh; manganese in Odisha-Karnataka; chromite in Odisha) are used in steelmaking, alloys, and construction. They form the backbone of metallurgical industries, accounting for 75% of metallic mineral value, enabling exports post-domestic needs.

Non-Ferrous Minerals

Lacking iron, these include bauxite (Odisha, Gujarat for aluminum), copper (Rajasthan’s Khetri, Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat), lead-zinc (Rajasthan’s Zawar, Rampura-Agucha), and gold (Karnataka’s Kolar). Used in electrical wiring, aircraft, electronics, and galvanization; vital for light industries and alloys.

Non-Metallic Minerals

Examples: mica (Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore, Rajasthan), limestone (Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh), gypsum (Rajasthan). Applied in electrical insulators, cement, fertilizers, and paints; support construction and chemical sectors.

6. Describe the location, uses, and importance of coal mines, natural gas and petroleum.

Ans: Coal, natural gas, and petroleum are vital conventional energy resources in India, powering over 50% of the nation’s energy needs, with major deposits in Gondwana coalfields and sedimentary basins.

Coal Mines

Located primarily in the Damodar-Mahanadi-Godavari valleys, key sites include Jharia (Jharkhand, largest coking coal reserves), Talcher (Odisha, highest geological reserves), Korba (Chhattisgarh), Raniganj (West Bengal), and Singraeni (Telangana). Used for thermal power (bituminous coal), steel production (coking coal), and industry; India’s 4th largest reserves globally drive electricity (70% coal-based) and economic growth.

Natural Gas

Found in Assam (Basin), Mumbai High (offshore Maharashtra/Gujarat), Krishna-Godavari Basin (Andhra Pradesh), and Cauvery Basin (Tamil Nadu); also via KG-D6 fields (River Krishna-Godavari basin and Dhirubhai 6). Powers electricity, fertilizers (urea production), and vehicles (CNG); cleaner than coal, supports energy security and reduces imports.​

Petroleum

Onshore in Assam (Digboi oldest), Gujarat (Ankleshwar); offshore Mumbai High (largest basin, 50%+ production), KG Basin. Refined into petrol, diesel, kerosene for transport (80% demand), petrochemicals, and plastics; critical despite 85% import reliance, fueling  GDP via exports.​

7. Describe the location, uses, and importance of nuclear energy resources and nuclear power plants, solar energy, wind, tidal, wave, and geothermal energy, and bioenergy.

Ans: India’s non-conventional energy resources, including nuclear and renewables, are crucial for sustainable development, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and meeting growing power demands amid climate goals.

Nuclear Energy

Resources like uranium (Jaduguda, Jharkhand; Tummalapalle, Andhra Pradesh) and thorium (Kerala beaches, monazite sands) fuel plants such as Tarapur (Maharashtra, 1400 MW), Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu, 2000 MW), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan, 1180 MW), and Kaiga (Karnataka). Used for base-load electricity generation; vital for clean, high-output power (currently 8 GW capacity, targeting 100 GW by 2047), supporting industry and exports while leveraging India’s thorium reserves.

Solar Energy

Harnessed via photovoltaic panels in Rajasthan (Bhadla Solar Park, world’s largest at 2.2 GW), Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu; government pushes rooftop solar nationwide. Powers homes, irrigation, and grids; key for India’s 500 GW renewable target by 2030, slashing emissions and creating rural jobs.​

Wind Energy

Concentrated in Tamil Nadu (Muppandal, 1500 MW), Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh coastal regions with high wind speeds. Generates electricity for grids; contributes 45 GW capacity, ideal for coastal states, boosting energy security.​

Tidal, Wave, and Geothermal Energy

Tidal: Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat), Gulf of Cambay; pilot projects generate power from tides. Wave: Southern coasts (experimental). Geothermal: Puga Valley (Jammu & Kashmir), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh) hot springs. Emerging for continuous baseload power; limited but high potential in Himalayas and coasts for eco-friendly energy.​

Bioenergy

Derived from biomass (sugarcane bagasse, rice husk) in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra; biogas from cattle dung nationwide. Used for electricity, fuels (ethanol blending), and cooking; promotes waste-to-energy, rural employment, and fossil fuel substitution.​

8. Justify the need to conserve mineral resources and suggests concrete steps.

Mineral resources must be conserved as they are finite, non-renewable, and irreplaceable within human timescales, despite forming the backbone of India’s industrial economy.

Need for Conservation

Rapid extraction for steel, energy, and manufacturing depletes high-grade ores, escalates costs from deeper mining, causes environmental damage like land degradation and pollution, and risks shortages for future generations amid rising demands from population growth and urbanization. In India, with vast but uneven reserves (e.g., iron ore in Odisha), unsustainable use threatens economic stability and sustainability goals.

Concrete Steps

• Use minerals efficiently through planned extraction, improved technology for low-grade ores, and zero-waste mining practices.
• Promote recycling of metals (e.g., steel, aluminum) and scrap reuse to cut fresh mining by up to 95% energy savings.
• Enforce National Mineral Policy 2019: auction transparency, environmental safeguards, mine rehabilitation, and dedicated corridors for transport.​
• Develop substitutes (e.g., composites for metals) and public campaigns for awareness.

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