Chapter 5: Minerals and Energy Resources — Notes & Worksheet

⛏️ Chapter 5: Minerals and Energy Resources

Class 10 | Contemporary India II | NCERT | Notes • Answers • Worksheet

1. What is a Mineral?

A mineral is a homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure. Minerals range from the hardest diamond to the softest talc.

Key Facts: Over 2000 minerals identified | Properties: colour, hardness, crystal form, lustre, density | Minerals extracted from ores (mineral + other elements).

2. Classification of Minerals

🗂️ Classification of Minerals

MINERALS

Metallic

Ferrous
Iron ore, Manganese, Nickel

Non-Ferrous
Copper, Bauxite, Lead, Tin

Precious
Gold, Silver, Platinum

Non-Metallic

Mica, Salt, Sulphur
Granite, Limestone, Marble

Energy Minerals

Coal, Petroleum
Natural Gas

3. Mode of Occurrence of Minerals

#	Mode	How Formed	Examples
1	Igneous/Metamorphic rocks	Molten minerals cool in cracks → Veins (small) / Lodes (large)	Tin, Copper, Zinc, Lead
2	Sedimentary rocks	Deposition in horizontal beds/layers	Coal, Iron ore, Gypsum, Potash
3	Residual deposits	Decomposition of surface rocks; soluble parts removed	Bauxite
4	Placer deposits	In valley floor/hill base sands; not corroded by water	Gold, Silver, Tin, Platinum
5	Ocean water	Dissolved minerals + manganese nodules on ocean beds	Salt, Magnesium, Bromine

4. Distribution of Key Minerals in India

🔴 Iron Ore

Magnetite — finest quality, up to 70% iron; excellent magnetic properties.
Hematite — most important industrially; 50–60% iron.

Belt	States	Key Areas	Export Port
Odisha–Jharkhand	Odisha, Jharkhand	Badampahar, Gua, Noamundi	Paradip
Durg–Bastar–Chandrapur	Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra	Bailadila (14 deposits of super high grade ore)	Vishakhapatnam
Ballari–Tumakuru Belt	Karnataka	Kudremukh (100% export unit)	Mangaluru
Maharashtra–Goa Belt	Goa, Maharashtra	Ratnagiri	Marmagao

🟤 Manganese

10 kg needed to make 1 tonne of steel.
Also used in: bleaching powder, insecticides, paints.
Top producers: Madhya Pradesh (27%), Odisha, Maharashtra.

🟠 Copper

India is critically deficient in copper.
Properties: malleable, ductile, good conductor → used in electrical cables, electronics.
Key mines: Balaghat (MP), Khetri (Rajasthan), Singhbhum (Jharkhand).

🔵 Bauxite → Aluminium

Formed by decomposition of rocks rich in aluminium silicates.
Aluminium = strong + light + good conductor + malleable.
Major deposits: Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills, Bilaspur–Katni.
Odisha is the largest producer — Panchpatmali deposits, Koraput.

✨ Mica

Splits into thin sheets; excellent insulating properties; used in electric/electronic industries.
Leading producers: Koderma–Gaya–Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Nellore (AP).

⬜ Limestone

Found in sedimentary rocks; basic raw material for cement industry.
Essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnaces.

⚠️ Hazards of Mining: Dust/fumes → pulmonary diseases | Roof collapse, flooding, fire | Water contamination | Land degradation | Stricter safety laws needed to prevent mining from becoming a "killer industry".

5. Conservation of Minerals

Workable deposits = only 1% of Earth's crust.
Minerals are finite and non-renewable.
Steps: Use improved technology for low-grade ores | Recycle metals | Use substitutes.

6. Energy Resources

⚡ Types of Energy Sources

🏭 Conventional

• Firewood & Dung Cake
• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural Gas
• Hydro Electricity
• Thermal Electricity

🌿 Non-Conventional

• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Tidal Energy
• Geothermal Energy
• Biogas
• Nuclear/Atomic Energy

🪨 Coal — Types

Type	Quality	Key Feature	Where Found
Peat	Lowest	High moisture, low heating	Swamps
Lignite	Low grade	Brown coal, high moisture	Neyveli, Tamil Nadu
Bituminous	Most popular	Used commercially; smelting	Damodar Valley
Anthracite	Highest	Hard coal	Limited in India

Gondwana coal (200 million years) — Damodar Valley: Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro | Godavari, Mahanadi, Son, Wardha valleys

Tertiary coal (55 million years) — NE India: Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland

🛢️ Petroleum

Second major energy source after coal. Used as fuel, lubricant, raw material.
Major areas: Mumbai High, Gujarat, Assam.
Assam is the oldest oil-producing state: Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran-Hugrijan.

💨 Natural Gas

Clean energy — low CO₂ emissions. "Fuel of the present century."
Large reserves: Krishna-Godavari basin, Mumbai High, Andaman & Nicobar.
HVJ Pipeline (1700 km): Hazira → Vijaipur → Jagdishpur.

🌱 Non-Conventional Energy Sources at a Glance

☀️

Solar

Tropical country; photovoltaic; rural areas

💨

Wind

Tamil Nadu (Nagarcoil); Jaisalmer

🌊

Tidal

Gulf of Khambhat; Gulf of Kuchchh; Sunderban

🌋

Geothermal

Parvati Valley (HP); Puga Valley (Ladakh)

🐄

Biogas

Gobar Gas Plants; animal/farm waste

⚛️

Nuclear

Uranium (Jharkhand/Rajasthan); Thorium (Kerala)

7. Key Terms

Term	Meaning
Ore	Accumulation of mineral mixed with other elements; extracted commercially.
Vein	Small mineral occurrence in cracks of igneous/metamorphic rocks.
Lode	Large mineral occurrence in cracks of igneous/metamorphic rocks.
Placer deposits	Minerals in valley floor sands not corroded by water (Gold, Silver, Tin, Platinum).
Rat-hole mining	Narrow tunnel mining in Meghalaya; declared illegal by NGT.
CNG	Compressed Natural Gas — clean vehicle fuel.
HVJ Pipeline	1700 km Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur gas pipeline.

Exercise 1: MCQ Answers

(i) Which mineral is formed by decomposition of rocks leaving residual weathered material?

✅ (b) Bauxite — It is formed when surface rocks decompose, soluble parts are removed, and a residual mass of weathered material containing ores is left behind.

(ii) Koderma (Jharkhand) is the leading producer of which mineral?

✅ (b) Mica — The Koderma–Gaya–Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading mica-producing area in India.

(iii) Minerals are deposited in stratas of which rocks?

✅ (a) Sedimentary rocks — Minerals like coal, iron ore, and gypsum occur in beds and layers (strata) formed by deposition.

(iv) Which mineral is contained in Monazite sand?

✅ (c) Thorium — Monazite sands of Kerala are rich in Thorium, which is used to generate nuclear/atomic energy.

Exercise 2: Short Answer Questions

(a) Difference between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals.

Ferrous minerals contain iron. Examples: Iron ore, Manganese, Nickel, Cobalt. They form the base for metallurgical/steel industries.Non-ferrous minerals do not contain iron. Examples: Copper, Bauxite, Lead, Zinc, Gold. They are vital for electrical, engineering, and chemical industries.

(b) Difference between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.

Conventional sources: Traditional sources — firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydel and thermal electricity. Most are non-renewable and cause pollution.Non-conventional sources: Renewable, eco-friendly alternatives — solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas, nuclear energy. They are sustainable and have low environmental impact.

(ii) What is a mineral?

A mineral is a homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure. Minerals vary widely — from the hardest diamond to the softest talc — depending on their chemical composition and conditions of formation.

(iii) How are minerals formed in igneous and metamorphic rocks?

In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals form in cracks, crevices, faults, or joints. Minerals in liquid/molten and gaseous forms are forced upward through cavities toward the Earth's surface. As they rise, they cool and solidify. Smaller occurrences are called veins; larger ones are called lodes. Major metallic minerals obtained this way: Tin, Copper, Zinc, Lead.

(iv) Why do we need to conserve mineral resources?

Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable — they take millions of years to form but are being consumed rapidly. Workable deposits are only about 1% of Earth's crust. Continued extraction increases costs and decreases quality. Conservation through recycling, using low-grade ores with improved technology, and finding substitutes is essential to meet future needs.

Exercise 3: Long Answer Questions

(i) Describe the distribution of coal in India.

Coal occurs in two geological age groups in India:1. Gondwana Coal (~200 million years old) — Metallurgical/bituminous coal; most important: • Damodar Valley (West Bengal–Jharkhand): Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro — most important • Godavari, Mahanadi, Son, and Wardha valleys also have deposits2. Tertiary Coal (~55 million years old) — Found in north-east India: • Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, NagalandSpecial: Lignite reserves at Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) used for electricity generation.Coal is a bulky material (reduces to ash on use), so industries and power stations are located near coalfields.

(ii) Why does solar energy have a bright future in India?

Solar energy has a bright future in India because: 1. India is a tropical country — abundant sunshine throughout the year. 2. Photovoltaic technology directly converts sunlight into electricity. 3. It is available even in remote and rural areas where grid electricity is unavailable. 4. It reduces dependence on firewood and dung cakes, protecting forests and improving manure supply. 5. Clean and renewable — no pollution, no CO₂ emissions. 6. Large solar power plants are being set up across India. 7. Contributes to energy security and reduces the need to import fossil fuels.

Intext/Activity Questions

What minerals are used in toothpaste?

• Abrasive minerals: Silica, Limestone, Aluminium oxide, Phosphate minerals (for cleaning) • Fluorite (source of fluoride — reduces cavities) • Rutile, Ilmenite, Anatase (source of titanium oxide — makes toothpaste white) • Mica (gives sparkle) • Toothbrush and tube: made from plastics derived from petroleum

What is rat-hole mining? Why is it problematic?

Rat-hole mining is a form of coal mining done by family members in Meghalaya (mainly in Jowai and Cherapunjee) through long, narrow tunnels. Unlike other states, in tribal areas of north-east India, minerals are owned by individuals/communities. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has declared it illegal because it is unsafe for miners and harmful to the environment.

What is the role of the HVJ Pipeline?

The Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur (HVJ) Pipeline is 1700 km long. It links Mumbai High and Bassein gas fields with fertiliser, power, and industrial complexes in western and northern India. It boosted India's gas production and supply. Power and fertiliser industries are the key users of this natural gas.

📝 Practice Worksheet — Chapter 5: Minerals and Energy Resources
Name: _____________________________ | Class: _____ | Date: _____________

A. Fill in the Blanks

The finest iron ore with up to 70% iron content is .
Koderma–Gaya–Hazaribagh belt is famous for mining.
Bauxite is mainly found in plateau and Maikal hills.
is the oldest oil-producing state of India.
The HVJ pipeline is km long.
Monazite sands of Kerala are rich in .
Lignite reserves are found in Neyveli in .
Rat-hole mining was declared illegal by .

B. Match the Following

Column A	Column B	Your Answer
1. Bailadila	A. Biogas
2. Puga Valley	B. Iron ore (Chhattisgarh)
3. Gobar Gas Plant	C. Geothermal energy
4. Nagarcoil	D. Wind energy
5. Kudremukh	E. Iron ore export unit (Karnataka)

C. True or False

Hematite has higher iron content than Magnetite. [ ]
Natural gas is considered an environment-friendly fuel. [ ]
Mica is the basic raw material for the cement industry. [ ]
India is one of the largest producers of copper. [ ]
The Damodar Valley contains Gondwana coal. [ ]

D. One-Word / One-Line Answers

Which type of deposits contain minerals like gold and platinum that are not corroded by water?
What is the full form of CNG?
Which is the highest quality of coal?
Name the mineral from which aluminium is obtained.
Where is the largest wind farm cluster in India located?
Name the two experimental geothermal projects in India.

E. Short Notes (Write 3–4 lines)

1. Conservation of Minerals

2. Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

3. Importance of Iron Ore in India

🔑 Answer Key

Fill in the Blanks: 1. Magnetite 2. Mica 3. Amarkantak 4. Assam 5. 1700 6. Thorium 7. Tamil Nadu 8. National Green Tribunal

Match: 1-B2-C3-A4-D5-E

True/False: 1-False2-True3-False4-False5-True

One-word: 1. Placer deposits 2. Compressed Natural Gas 3. Anthracite 4. Bauxite 5. Tamil Nadu (Nagarcoil) 6. Parvati Valley & Puga Valley

MCQs: 1-b (Bauxite) 2-c (Jharia) 3-c (Natural Gas)

GEO CH 5 Minerals and Energy Resources