NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 5 - Minerals and Energy Resources

Minerals and Energy Resources: In this article we have discussed the solutions of NCERT Class 10 Geography Chapter 5 with detailed explanation. These solutions are helpful to students who will be appearing for board exams or any other exams.

Exercises: Page No 63

1. Multiple choice questions.

Questions:

i.) Which one of the following minerals are formed by the decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of weathered material?

1. Coal
2. Bauxite
3. Gold
4. Zinc

Solution:

b.) Bauxite

Explanation:

Bauxite

Bauxite is an ore of aluminium. Bauxite deposit is mainly found in Maikal hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni. The main reason for the deposition of bauxite is the wide variety of rocks rich in aluminium silicates. Aluminium is a highly malleable and good conductor of heat and electricity. It is very strong yet light.

Formation of Minerals

Minerals are mainly extracted from ores. Ores are just like the deposition of an element along with various kinds of impurities. For example, bauxite is an ore of aluminium. It means that bauxite has a greater concentration of aluminium and various impurities. The mineral content of the ore must be sufficiently concentrated to ensure that mineral extraction is economically feasible. The kind of structure and formation in which mineral ores are found affects how easily those ores can be mined. This aids in estimating the extraction cost.

Formation of Coal

It takes millions of years for coal to form. About 300 million years ago, it was created on Earth from swamp forests. The local vegetation withered and fell into the swamps. These layers developed over time in various layers. These layers continued to condense under pressure and heat. These circumstances caused the dead plants to undergo a lot of chemical change and produce deposits rich in carbon. These became brittle with time and socialization.

A specific spot in the periodic table belongs to the chemical element gold. The chemical symbol for gold is Au, and its atomic number is 79. Gold that came from the remains of dead stars was once discovered on Earth. Gold plays a significant role in the earth's formation because heavy metals like the iron form it. There would be no possibility of discovering gold on Earth if no other cosmic event of this kind took place. Gold is found in the earth's crust because of this asteroidal activity that occurred 4 billion years ago.

Question:

ii.) Koderma, in Jharkhand, is the leading producer of which one of the following minerals?

1. Bauxite
2. Mica
3. Iron Ore
4. Copper

Solution:

b.) Mica

Explanation:

Mica

Mica is an important mineral used in electrical industry for making electronic items. This is because it can bear very high voltage and has good insulating properties. It also has low power loss factor and excellent di-electric strength. Mica is made by series of plates or leaves and can be beaten into sheets easily. It can be in various colour such as green, red, yellow or brown. Mica is mainly produced in Koderma Gaya - Hazaribagh in Jharkhand. Chota Nagpur Plateau and Ajmer region of Rajasthan are also producer of Mica.

Bauxite

Bauxite is an ore of aluminium. Bauxite deposit is mainly found in Maikal hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni. The main reason for the deposition of bauxite is the wide variety of rocks rich in aluminium silicates. Aluminium is a highly malleable and good conductor of heat and electricity. It is very strong yet light.

Copper

Copper is an excellent conductor, ductile and malleable material. Copper is mostly used in chemical, electronic, and electrical wires. India's top copper producers include:

1. The Balaghat mines in Madhya Pradesh.
2. The Khetri mines in Rajasthan.
3. The Singhbhum area of Jharkhand.

Iron Ore

Iron is the most important material and backbone of all industry. Hematite ore of iron has the highest concentration of iron. Iron ore is mainly found in Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar district of Orissa.

Question:

iii.) Minerals are deposited and accumulated in the strata of which of the following rocks?

1. Sedimentary Rocks
2. Metamorphic Rocks
3. Igneous Rocks
4. None of the above

Solution:

a.) Sedimentary Rocks

Explanation:

In the case of metamorphic rocks, minerals occur at cracks, joints, or faults. The place in the rock where the crack is big is known as a lode, while a smaller crack is called a vein. These cracks are mainly formed when the minerals move upward in a gaseous or molten state. While they rise there, the temperature gets lower, and they solidify. Lead, copper, tin, and zinc are minerals found in rocks.

In sedimentary rocks, several minerals can be found in layers or beds. These minerals were created due to their horizontal strata concentration, which was brought about through deposition and accumulation. Some kinds of iron and coal have become concentrated because of the prolonged pressure and heat.

Question:

iv.) Which one of the following minerals is contained in the Monazite sand?

1. Oil
2. Uranium
3. Thorium
4. Coal

Solution:

c.) Thorium

Explanation:

The Monazite sands of Kerala are rich in Thorium. Thorium is an element that can be used to replace uranium. Uranium is a nuclear fuel in nuclear reactors. However, several thorium reactors have also been built because scientists have suggested thorium as a replacement for uranium. These elements are mainly found in Jharkhand and Aravalli in Rajasthan.

2.) Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

Question:

i.) Distinguish between the following in not more than 30 words.

1. Ferrous and non-ferrous minerals
2. Conventional and non-conventional sources of energy

Solution:

a.) Ferrous Minerals and Non-ferrous Minerals

Ferrous Minerals: Almost three-fourths of the total metallic minerals are ferrous minerals. Ferrous minerals are the base of the metallurgical industry. India has abundant ferrous minerals, so they are even exported outside after keeping the required quantity. Some examples of ferrous minerals are iron ore and manganese.

Non-Ferrous Minerals: The production of non-ferrous minerals in India is not as per their demand. These non-ferrous metals have a key role in the engineering, electrical and metallurgical industries. Examples of non-ferrous minerals are gold, lead, bauxite, and copper.

b.) Conventional and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

Conventional and Non-Conventional are the two types of energy sources.

Conventional Sources of Energy: These energy sources include coal, natural gas, petroleum, and firewood. Energy can also be generated from natural gas and other different fuels.

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy: These energy sources include biogas, atomic energy, tidal, wind, and solar energy. Fossil fuel has a side effect on the environment; therefore, its recommended to use a non-conventional source. India has a lot of resources to generate a non-conventional source, and even the government has also taken various initiatives and programs to produce more energy through non-conventional sources.

Question:

ii.) What is a mineral?

Solution:

Minerals may be characterized as homogeneous, naturally occurring materials with a definable internal structure. The hardest mineral, diamond, is found in nature in a variety of forms, as is the softest mineral, talc.

Question:

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

Solution:

In the case of metamorphic and igneous rocks, minerals occur at cracks, joints, or faults. The place in the rock where the crack is big is known as a lode, while a smaller crack is called a vein. These cracks are mainly formed when the minerals move upward in a gaseous or molten state. While they rise there, the temperature gets lower, and they solidify. Lead, copper, tin, and zinc are minerals found in rocks.

In sedimentary rocks, several minerals can be found in layers or beds. These minerals were created due to their horizontal strata concentration, which was brought about through deposition and accumulation. Some kinds of iron and coal have become concentrated because of the prolonged pressure and heat.

Question:

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

Solution:

Mineral resources must be conserved because

1. The most important issue is the overuse of resources, which leads to their exhaustion.
2. They require millions of years to produce anew and are not renewable.
3. As minerals are extracted from deeper layers with a deteriorating grade, further ore extraction raises expenses.

3.) Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

Question:

i.) Describe the distribution of coal in India

Solution:

In India, the eastern part of the country has a greater abundance of coal. Coal can be found in rock series from India's two main geological eras, the Gondwana and tertiary. The age of tertiary deposits is roughly 55 million years, whereas Gondwana coal is about 200 million years old. The Damodar valley (West Bengal, Jharkhand), Jharia, Raniganj, and Bokaro are where most of the Gondwana (metallurgical) coal resources are found. Additionally, there are coal deposits in the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son, and Wardha valleys. Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland are among the northeastern states where tertiary coals are found.

Question:

ii.) Why do you think that solar energy has a bright future in India?

Solution:

India is a tropical country with vast potential for harnessing solar energy, so the future of solar energy is bright. Rural and remote areas are quickly adopting solar energy. In Madhapur, near Bhuj, India's largest solar power plant uses solar energy to sterilize milk cans. With solar energy, it is anticipated that rural households' reliance on dung cakes and firewood will be reduced to a minimum, helping to preserve the environment and ensure an adequate supply of manure for agricultural use.

A non-traditional energy source that is also renewable is solar energy. Utilizing solar energy will benefit the environment and lessen our reliance on oil and gas, in addition to being beneficial to us.