Minerals and Energy Resources

Types and Occurrence of Minerals

Minerals are essential for our economic development and personal well-being.

Minerals occur naturally in the earth’s crust

India is a mineral-rich country.

Minerals can be classified as:

 Metallic minerals
 Ferrous minerals
 Non-ferrous minerals
 Precious metals

 Non-Metallic minerals
 Energy or Fuel minerals

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Minerals

Ferrous minerals contain iron, e.g. iron ore and manganese.

Iron has rich deposits of ferrous minerals.
Non-ferrous minerals don not contain iron, e.g. copper and bauxite
Bauxite is the main ore of aluminium.
India has unsatisfactory reserves of non-ferrous minerals.
Non-Metallic Minerals

Mica is a non-metallic composed of thin leaves joined together.

Limestone is a form of sedimentary rock almost entirely composed of calcium
carbonate.
Mine workers face serious risks to their health and life.
Minerals are limited and non-renewable resources.

Energy Resources

The conventional sources of energy include firewood; cattle dung cakes, coal,
petroleum, natural gas, and hydro and thermal electricity.
Intense heat and pressure over millions of years has turned prehistoric plant
material buried under how much pressure.
Petroleum provides fuels like petrol and diesel, industrial lubricants and raw
material for number of industries, including textiles, fertilisers and cosmetics.
Natural gas is a mixture of gases found trapped in rock with or without
petroleum.

Electricity and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

Electricity can be generated through several methods.

The present production of electricity depends heavily on the use of fossil fuels.
We need to develop non-conventional sources of energy to ensure future energy
security.
Solar energy, wind energy, biogas, tidal energy and geothermal energy are some
non-conventional sources of energy.
Conservation of Energy

The demand for energy is rising in all parts of the country.

We are heavily dependent on fossil fuels to meet energy requirements.
To ensure future energy security, we must develop renewable sources of energy
and implement ways for energy conservation.