Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 7 (Mineral and energy resources) – India - People and Economy Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 7: Mineral and Energy Resources from your 'India - People and Economy' book. This is a very important chapter, not just for your board exams but extensively for various government exams. Pay close attention to the distribution patterns, types, and significance of these resources in India.

Chapter 7: Mineral and Energy Resources - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction

• Minerals: Naturally occurring chemical compounds, usually crystalline, formed through inorganic processes. They have a definite chemical composition and physical properties.
• Characteristics:
  • Uneven Distribution: Resources are spatially unevenly distributed. Rich endowments in some areas, poor in others.
  • Exhaustibility: Minerals are finite and non-renewable resources. Takes millions of years to form.
  • Inverse Relationship: There's generally an inverse relationship between quantity and quality; high-quality minerals are less abundant than lower-quality ones.
• Importance: Minerals form the backbone of industrial development, infrastructure, and overall economic growth.

2. Classification of Minerals

Minerals are broadly classified into:

• Metallic Minerals: Contain metal content.
  • Ferrous: Contain iron. Examples: Iron ore, Manganese, Chromite, Nickel, Cobalt. Crucial for metallurgical industries, especially iron and steel.
  • Non-ferrous: Do not contain iron. Examples: Copper, Bauxite (Aluminium ore), Lead, Zinc, Tin, Gold, Silver. Used in various industries like electrical, engineering, jewellery.
• Non-metallic Minerals: Do not contain metals.
  • Fuel Minerals: Organic origin, provide energy. Examples: Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas.
  • Other Non-metallic Minerals: Examples: Mica, Limestone, Dolomite, Phosphate, Gypsum, Asbestos, Marble, Sandstone. Used in industries like cement, fertilizers, electrical, construction.

3. Distribution of Minerals in India

Mineral distribution in India is closely linked to its geological structure. Most metallic minerals occur in the Peninsular Plateau region (old crystalline rocks). The vast alluvial plains of North India are generally devoid of economic minerals.

• Major Mineral Belts:
  • The North-Eastern Plateau Belt: Covers Chotanagpur (Jharkhand), Odisha Plateau, West Bengal, and parts of Chhattisgarh. Richest mineral belt. Contains vast reserves of Iron ore, Coal, Manganese, Bauxite, Mica.
  • The South-Western Plateau Belt: Extends over Karnataka, Goa, contiguous Tamil Nadu uplands, and Kerala. Rich in Ferrous metals (high-grade Iron ore, Manganese) and Bauxite. Also contains Limestone, Monazite (Kerala), but lacks significant coal deposits (except Neyveli lignite).
  • The North-Western Belt: Along the Aravalli range in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. Rich in non-ferrous metals like Copper, Zinc. Also known for building stones (Sandstone, Granite, Marble), Gypsum, Fuller's earth, Salt (Gujarat, Rajasthan). Dolomite and Limestone provide raw materials for the cement industry. Gujarat and Rajasthan also have petroleum deposits.
  • The Himalayan Belt: Another mineral belt, but geological conditions (complex structure) make extraction difficult and costly. Known deposits include copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, and tungsten.

4. Detailed Look at Key Minerals

• Ferrous Minerals:

  • Iron Ore:
    • Backbone of industrial development (Iron & Steel Industry).
    • India has large reserves of good quality iron ore.
    • Types: Magnetite (best quality, >70% iron), Hematite (most important industrial ore, 60-70% iron).
    • Major Belts/Mines:
      • Odisha-Jharkhand Belt: High-grade Hematite. Mines: Badampahar (Mayurbhanj, Odisha), Gua & Noamundi (Singhbhum, Jharkhand), Kendujhar (Odisha).
      • Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur Belt (Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra): Very high-grade Hematite. Mines: Bailadila range (Bastar, Chhattisgarh) - supplies Visakhapatnam port.
      • Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-Tumakuru Belt (Karnataka): Large reserves. Kudremukh mines (known for 100% export unit, ore transported as slurry).
      • Maharashtra-Goa Belt: Includes Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) and Goa. Ores are not very high quality but efficiently exploited and exported through Marmagao port.
    • Major Producing States: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand.
  • Manganese:
    • Use: Primarily in manufacturing steel and ferro-manganese alloys (toughens steel). Also used in bleaching powder, insecticides, paints, batteries.
    • Major Producing States: Odisha (leading producer), Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka.
    • Key Mines: Balaghat (MP), Nagpur-Bhandara (Maharashtra), Kendujhar & Sundargarh (Odisha), Shimoga (Karnataka).

• Non-Ferrous Minerals:

  • Bauxite:
    • Ore of Aluminium. Formed by decomposition of rocks rich in aluminium silicates.
    • Use: Aluminium is light, strong, has good conductivity, and great malleability. Used in aircraft, utensils, electrical industry, construction.
    • Major Producing States: Odisha (largest producer, ~50% of India's production), Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh.
    • Key Areas: Panchpatmali deposits (Koraput, Odisha) are crucial. Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills, Bilaspur-Katni plateau regions.
  • Copper:
    • Properties: Malleable, ductile, good conductor.
    • Use: Mainly in electrical cables, electronics, chemical industries.
    • Distribution: India is critically deficient in copper reserves and production.
    • Major Producing States: Madhya Pradesh (leading producer), Rajasthan, Jharkhand.
    • Key Mines: Balaghat mines (MP), Khetri mines (Rajasthan), Singhbhum district (Jharkhand).

• Non-Metallic Minerals:

  • Mica:
    • Properties: Excellent dielectric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties, resistance to high voltage.
    • Use: Indispensable for electrical and electronic industries.
    • Distribution: India is a leading producer and exporter.
    • Major Belts:
      • Jharkhand-Bihar Border: Koderma-Gaya-Hazaribagh belt (Jharkhand) is the leading producer.
      • Rajasthan: Ajmer-Beawar belt.
      • Andhra Pradesh: Nellore mica belt.

5. Energy Resources

Energy is essential for economic development (agriculture, industry, transport, domestic use).

• Classification:

  • Conventional: Generally exhaustible (except hydro). Examples: Firewood, Cattle dung cake, Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Hydroelectricity, Thermal Power, Nuclear Energy.
  • Non-conventional: Renewable, sustainable, eco-friendly. Examples: Solar, Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, Biogas, Atomic energy (sometimes placed here due to technology).

• Conventional Sources:

  • Coal:
    • Most abundant fossil fuel in India. Used for power generation, supplying energy to industry, domestic needs.
    • Formation: Compression of plant material over millions of years. Found in sedimentary strata.
    • Types: Anthracite (highest quality), Bituminous (most common, commercially used), Lignite (low grade, high moisture), Peat (lowest grade).
    • Distribution:
      • Gondwana Coalfields (~200 million years old): ~98% of reserves. Located in Damodar Valley (West Bengal-Jharkhand - Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro), Godavari Valley, Mahanadi Valley, Son Valley, Wardha Valley. Primarily Bituminous.
      • Tertiary Coalfields (~55 million years old): Found in North-Eastern states (Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland). Also Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) has Lignite deposits.
    • Issues: Indian coal is generally high in ash content and low in calorific value. Transportation is a major cost.
  • Petroleum:
    • Second major energy source after coal. Provides fuel, lubricant, raw material for petrochemical industries (synthetic textiles, fertilizers, plastics).
    • Formation: Found in anticlines, fault traps in sedimentary rocks of Tertiary age.
    • Distribution:
      • Offshore: Mumbai High (largest producer, ~63%), Bassein (south of Mumbai High), Aliabet island (Gulf of Khambhat).
      • Onshore: Assam (oldest oil-producing state - Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran-Hugrijan), Gujarat (Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana), Rajasthan (Barmer region).
    • Refineries: Act as "nodal industries". Can be field-based (e.g., Digboi) or market-based (e.g., Barauni, Mathura). India imports a significant portion of its petroleum needs.
  • Natural Gas:
    • Important clean energy resource. Environmentally friendly. Found with or without petroleum.
    • Use: Fuel for power generation, industrial heating, raw material in petrochemical/fertilizer industries, cooking fuel (LPG/CNG).
    • Reserves: Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin, Mumbai High & allied fields, Gulf of Cambay, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tripura.
    • Infrastructure: Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline is a major trunk line. GAIL (India) Ltd. handles marketing and transportation.
  • Electricity: Generated mainly from Thermal Power (using Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas) and Hydroelectricity (using falling water). Nuclear power also contributes.
    • Thermal Power: Dominant source. Over 310 thermal power plants. Depends heavily on coal.
    • Hydro Power: Renewable. India has significant potential. Major projects: Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Corporation, Hirakud, Koyna, Tungabhadra. Contributes about 22-25% of total power.
  • Nuclear/Atomic Energy:
    • Obtained by altering the structure of atoms (fission). Releases immense energy.
    • Raw Materials: Uranium (found in Jaduguda-Jharkhand, Aravallis-Rajasthan, Meghalaya) and Thorium (from Monazite sands on Kerala coast).
    • Major Nuclear Power Plants: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan, near Kota), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), Kaiga (Karnataka), Kakrapar (Gujarat).
    • Managed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

• Non-Conventional Sources:

  • Need: Growing energy consumption, depleting fossil fuels, environmental concerns necessitate the shift towards non-conventional sources.
  • Solar Energy: India is a tropical country with huge potential. Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Used for water heating, lighting, cooking. National Solar Mission aims to boost capacity. Large solar parks being established (e.g., Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan).
  • Wind Energy: India has large potential, especially in coastal regions and states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. India is among the leading countries in wind power generation. Largest wind farm cluster in India is from Nagarcoil to Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Muppandal (TN) is a major site.
  • Biogas: Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste used to produce gas for domestic consumption (cooking, lighting) in rural areas. Provides twin benefits: energy and improved quality of manure. 'Gobar Gas Plants' are common.
  • Tidal Energy: Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity. Floodgate dams built across inlets. Potential sites: Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat (Gujarat), Gangetic delta (Sundarbans, West Bengal). Still in nascent stages.
  • Geothermal Energy: Heat from the Earth's interior used to generate electricity. Hot springs can be used. Potential sites: Puga Valley (Ladakh), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh). Experimental projects exist.

6. Conservation of Mineral and Energy Resources

• Need:
  • Minerals and conventional energy sources are finite and non-renewable.
  • Takes millions of years for their formation.
  • Continued rapid consumption will lead to depletion.
  • Extraction and use cause environmental degradation.
• Strategies:
  • Sustainable Development: Use resources judiciously for present needs without compromising future generations' needs.
  • Improved Technology: Develop technologies that allow the use of low-grade ores at low costs and minimize wastage during mining and processing.
  • Recycling: Recycle metals (scrap metal) to reduce primary extraction.
  • Use of Alternatives/Substitutes: Find renewable substitutes (e.g., using plastics/composites instead of metals where possible, shifting to renewable energy).
  • Reduce Wastage: Minimize wastage in mining, processing, transportation, and consumption.
  • Promote Non-conventional Sources: Actively develop and utilize solar, wind, geothermal, etc.
  • Public Awareness: Educate people about the importance of conservation.

This chapter highlights India's resource base, which is crucial for its economic trajectory. Understanding the distribution, utilization, and conservation challenges is key for anyone preparing for competitive exams.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which of the following mineral belts in India is considered the richest in terms of variety and quantity of mineral deposits?
   (a) The North-Western Belt
   (b) The South-Western Plateau Belt
   (c) The North-Eastern Plateau Belt
   (d) The Himalayan Belt

2. Kudremukh mines in Karnataka are primarily known for the export of which mineral?
   (a) Bauxite
   (b) Iron Ore
   (c) Manganese
   (d) Copper

3. Which state is the leading producer of Bauxite in India?
   (a) Jharkhand
   (b) Gujarat
   (c) Chhattisgarh
   (d) Odisha

4. The Koderma-Gaya-Hazaribagh belt in Jharkhand is famous for the deposits of which non-metallic mineral?
   (a) Limestone
   (b) Mica
   (c) Gypsum
   (d) Dolomite

5. Which of the following is the oldest oil-producing state in India?
   (a) Gujarat
   (b) Maharashtra
   (c) Assam
   (d) Rajasthan

6. Gondwana coal deposits in India are primarily found in which river valleys?
   (a) Narmada Valley
   (b) Kaveri Valley
   (c) Damodar Valley
   (d) Yamuna Valley

7. The Tarapur Nuclear Power Station is located in which state?
   (a) Rajasthan
   (b) Tamil Nadu
   (c) Uttar Pradesh
   (d) Maharashtra

8. Which of the following is NOT a major challenge associated with conventional energy sources like coal in India?
   (a) High ash content
   (b) Depleting reserves
   (c) Environmental pollution
   (d) Abundant availability of high-grade coking coal

9. The Puga Valley in Ladakh and Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh are known for the potential of which non-conventional energy source?
   (a) Solar Energy
   (b) Wind Energy
   (c) Geothermal Energy
   (d) Tidal Energy

10. Which mineral is essential for the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloys, with major reserves found in Balaghat (MP) and Kendujhar (Odisha)?
    (a) Copper
    (b) Bauxite
    (c) Manganese
    (d) Iron Ore

Answer Key:

1. (c)
2. (b)
3. (d)
4. (b)
5. (c)
6. (c)
7. (d)
8. (d) - India faces a shortage of high-grade coking coal.
9. (c)
10. (c)

Study these notes thoroughly. Remember the locations, associated minerals/energy types, and the significance/challenges. Good luck!