ANSWERS TO THE EXERCISES

Let’s Recall
I. Based on your understanding, tick ( ) the correct option.
1. b.; 2. c.; 3. c.; 4. c.; 5. c.
II. State whether the following statements are true or false and rewrite the incorrect
statements to correct them.
1. True
2. False : Peat is the first stage of coal formation and has a low carbon content of 45 to
60 percent.
3. False: Petroleum is mostly found in permeable sedimentary rocks such as sandstone.
4. True
5. False : Gobar gas plants are a cheap source of power.
III. Answer the following in one sentence.
1. Mineral is defined as an inorganic chemical compound or element that occurs
naturally, and are the main substances that make up rocks. The two main types of
minerals are metallic and non-metallic minerals. Examples of metallic minerals are
iron, copper, bauxite, lead, zinc, uranium, gold, silver, platinum and manganese.
Examples of non-metallic minerals are diamond, gypsum, clay, dolomite, gypsum,
asbestos, sulphur, mica, amethyst, quartz, chromium, tungsten, cobalt, vanadium and
molybdenum.
2. The uses of iron:
It is used to make machinery and tools.
It is used in construction work, for transport equipment, and as an alloy to
make a variety of products.
The uses of copper:
It is used to make electrical wires and cables.
It is used in manufacturing coins, tools and utensils.
It is used in manufacturing automobiles and machinery.

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The uses of bauxite:
It is used in the manufacture of aeroplanes.
It is used in the manufacture of machines and tools, and electrical cables and
wires.
It is used to make packaging materials, utensils, furniture, and in construction
work.
3. Non-conventional renewable sources of energy are solar energy, wind energy, tidal
energy, nuclear power or atomic energy, hydroelectric power, geothermal and biogas.
4. Nuclear power is not a very good form of energy generation because large quantities
of radioactive waste is generated, which causes environmental deterioration and health
hazards.
5. A geothermal energy plant in India is located at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh.
IV. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. Fossil fuels are coal and petroleum, which are formed by natural processes such as
decomposition of dead organisms buried deep inside the earth.
2. Anthracite is a better coal than peat because the carbon content of anthracite (90-95
per cent) is much higher than peat (45-60 per cent).
3. Petroleum is called ‘liquid gold’ because of the following reasons:
It provides fuel for heating, lighting and cooking.
It generates thermal power.
It is used as a lubricant for machinery.
It is used as a raw material for petrochemical, synthetic fibre and fertiliser
industries.
It is used to run automobiles.
4. Geothermal energy can be tapped by setting up geothermal plants in areas where there
is volcanic activity, and where there are hot springs or geysers.
5. Gobar gas plants are cheap sources of power because gobar gas can be generated by
using biomass, farm waste such as rice husk and bagasse, animal and poultry waste
and human excreta.

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V. Answer the following questions in detail.
1. Difference between surface mining, underground mining and alluvial mining are:

Surface Mining Underground Mining Alluvial Mining

It is used for mining It is used for mining It is done when the
minerals that occur close to minerals whose deposits are minerals occur in alluvial
the surface or are exposed far below the surface or a deposits.
to the surface. thick layer of rock covers
the deposits.
In this method, the top In this method, the In this method, minerals
layer of rock and soil is deposits are reached by from alluvial deposits are
stripped, and the mineral vertical shafts and usually recovered by
deposit is mined by strip- horizontal tunnels that are panning or placer mining,
mining or open pit sunk into the ground to the using water to wash out
methods. appropriate levels, known the lighter waste, leaving
as shaft-tunnel mining. behind the heavier mineral.
2. Coal was formed more than 300 million years ago, from the compressed remains of ancient
tropical forests and ferns. These plants were submerged and accumulated on swampy ground
where they got decayed to form coal. Different conditions, time factor and types of
vegetation resulted in the formation of different types of coal.
Petroleum formation has been going on for millions of years and is still getting formed.
Petroleum is mostly found in permeable sedimentary rocks such as sandstone. Here, it
is trapped in pore spaces of rocks. Petroleum is brought to the surface by drilling wells
into the ground.
3. Non-conventional resources of power are useful to us in the following ways:
Resources like water, wind and sun are very easily available and are in abundance.
Energy resources specific to a location can be used, for example, tidal energy can be
harnessed in coastal areas while geothermal energy can be generated in volcanic areas.
Energy can be generated from waste materials, for example biogas is generated from
sewage.
These non-conventional resources of power are pollution free as they do not emit
harmful gases or chemicals into the biosphere
4. Solar energy can be a good alternative to conventional sources of energy due to the following
reasons:
It can be used for cooking, heating, crop drying and other uses at a relatively low cost.
Under some circumstances it can be used to run generators.
It is pollution free and can be generated anywhere.

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5. The following are the ways in which mineral and power resources can be conserved: 
We must learn to use efficient mining techniques.
We should save some untapped sources for future needs, and locate new deposits for
sustained development.
We must conserve comparatively scarce metals such as copper by finding substitutes
which are in abundant supply such as bauxite.
We need to switch to renewable sources of energy such as wind, sun, tides and
geothermal energy in place of fossil fuels wherever and whenever possible. 
We must reuse, renew and recycle.

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