Minerals and power Resources1. A naturally occurring substance

having a definite chemical composition is called a mineral.

2. Minerals are found in certain areas only and not everywhere.

3. Minerals are formed in different conditions and human activities do not play any role in their formation. Instead only natural processes are involved.

4. Minerals can be identified on the basis of their physical properties like colour, density, hardness and chemical properties like solubility.

5. On the basis of composition we classify minerals as metallic and non-metallic

6. Metallic minerals contain metal7. The metal is present in raw form,

that is, it contains impurities and it needs to be processed in order to yield the pure metals

8. Ferrous minerals and non-Ferrous minerals are a classification of metallic minerals.

Minerals

Metallic minerals Non-

metallic minerals

Ferrous Non Ferrous

Iron ore manganese,

Chromites

Gold,

Sliver

Limestone,

Gypsum,

Mica

Uses of minerals

Industries, used for gems are usually hard. These are then set in various styles for jewellery .Copper is another metal used in everything from coins to pipes. Silicon used in computer is obtained from quartz Aluminium obtained from its ore is used in bauxite is used automobiles and airplanes bottling industry, buildings and even in kitchen.

Conservation of minerals Minerals are non renewable

resources Takes thousands of years for

formation

rate of formation is smaller than the consumption.

Necessary to reduce wastage in the process of mining

Recycling another way to conserve.

. Power –means energy. We require power for everything.

1. Power resources are two types – conventional and non-conventional

. Conventional power sources are those that have been in use for a long time.

Fossil fuels and firewood are examples

. Non-conventional power sources are those power sources that have come to use recently due to the depleting conventional resources and growing awareness.

Conventional source

. Firewood is widely used in India for cooking and heating. Fossil fuels are what the remains of plants and animals converted into after they

remained under the earth for millions of years.

. Coal, petroleum and natural gas are important fossil fuels.

Electricity from coal is called thermal power. Petroleum and its derivatives are called black gold because of their

importance. Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits.

. Hydel power is the energy possessed by river water (stored in dams) or rain water falling from great heights. One-fourth of the world’s electricity is produced from Hydel power.

Natural gas

Is found with petroleum deposits and is realsed when crude oil is brought to the surface.

Cand be used as domestic and industrial fuel

Non-conventional sources of energy-

Increasing use of fossil fuels is leading to its shortage.

If present rate of consumption continues, the reserves of these fuel will get exhausted

So there is need for using non-conventional sources such as solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy which is renewable.

Mining: The process of taking out minerals from

rocks buried under the earth’s surface is called Mining

Open cast mining:

Minerals that lie at the shallow depths are taken down by removing the surface layer ; this is known as open cast mining

Shaft Mining:

Deep bores, called shafts, have to be made to reach mineral deposits that lie at great depths. This is called shaft mining.

Drilling:

Petroleum and natural gas occur far below the Earth’s surface. Deep wells are bored to take them out, this is called Drilling.

Drilling Oil:

Quarrying:

Minerals that lie near the surface are simply dug out, by the process known as Quarrying.