RBSE Class 10 Social Science Important Questions Geography Chapter 5 Minerals and Energy Resources

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 10 Social Science Important Questions Geography Chapter 5 Minerals and Energy Resources Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 10 Social Science Important Questions Geography Chapter 5 Minerals and Energy Resources

Objective Type Questions 

Question 1. 
Which of the following is a metallic mineral ? 
(a) Copper
(b) Mica 
(c) Potash
(d) Marble 
Answer:
(a) Copper

Question 2. 
Which of the following is a source of energy ? 
(a) Limestone 
(b) Sandstone 
(c) Zinc
(d) Coal 
Answer:
(d) Coal 

Question 3. 
Which of the following is a non-metallic mineral? 
(a) Mica
(b) Platinum 
(c) Gold
(d) Silver 
Answer:
(a) Mica

Question 4. 
Which of the following is a non-ferrous mineral ? 
(a) Manganese 
(b) Nickel 
(c) Cobalt
(d) Zinc 
Answer:
(d) Zinc 

Question 5. 
This is obtained from Uranium and Thorium ? 
(a) Hydel power 
(b) Thermal power 
(c) Wind energy
(d) Atomic or nuclear energy 
Answer:
(d) Atomic or nuclear energy 

Question 6. 
Prevents teeth from melting
(a) Limestone 
(b) Fluoride
(c) Ilmenite
(d) Rutile 
Answer:
(b) Fluoride

Question 7. 
Which is the largest iron ore ? 
(a) Hematite
(b) Anthracite 
(c) Magnetite 
(d) Limonite 
Answer:
(c) Magnetite 

Question 8. 
Which is the largest bauxite producing state of India as of 2016-17 ? 
(a) Odisha
(b) Bihar 
(c) Jharkhand 
(d) Chhattisgarh 
Answer:
(a) Odisha

Question 9. 
Which state is the largest producer of limestone (2016-17) ? 
(a) Gujarat
(b) Rajasthan 
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Andhra Pradesh 
Answer:
(b) Rajasthan 

Question 10. 
The ideal area for generating tidal energy in India is-
(a) Gulf of Khambhat 
(b) Gulf of Kuchchh 
(c) Sunderban regions 
(d) All of the above 
Answer:
(d) All of the above 

Fill in the blanks 

1. .................. belt of iron ore lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. 
2. .................. is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel. 
3. ............. mines in Rajasthan are leading producer of copper. 
4. ............... is a low grade brown coal.
5. ............. is the oldest oil producting state of India. 
Answer:
1. Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur
2. Manganese
3. Khetri
4. Lignite
5. Assam.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Most of the toothpastes are made of which material ?
Answer:
Titanium oxide.

Question 2. 
Which is the most important industrial : iron ore ?
Answer:
Hematite. 

Question 3. 
Which is the low grade brown coal ? 
Answer:
Lignite.

Question 4. 
Which state is the leading producer of manganese in India ?
Answer:
Odisha.

Question 5. 
Which is the major mica producing area in Rajasthan ?
Answer:
Around Ajmer.

Question 6. 
Which raw material is required for the cement industry ?
Answer:
Limestone.

Question 7. 
From which mineral is aluminium obtained ?
Answer:
Bauxite.

Question 8. 
Who acts as a nodal industry for synthetic textile, fertilizer and numerous chemical industries ?
Answer:
Petroleum refineries.

Question 9. 
What is the name of the plant using cattle dung in rural area ?
Answer:
Gobar gas plant.

Question 10. 
What minerals are available in the toothpastes for cleaning the teeth ?
Answer:
Silica, limestone, aluminium oxide and various phosphate minerals.

Question 11. 
What is rat hole mining ?
Answer:
Coal mining in Meghalaya (Cherrapunji) is done by family members in the form of a long narrow tunnel known as rat hole mining.

Question 12. 
Write the affecting factors for the economic viability of the mineral reserves.
Answer:

• The concentration of minerals in the ores.
• The ease of extraction. 
• Closeness to the market.

Question 13. 
What are minerals ?
Answer:
Geologists define minerals as a homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.

Question 14. 
What is mineral ore ?
Answer:
Mineral ore is the raw metal extracted from the earth mixed with soil and other impurities.

Question 15. 
Write the names of any two varieties of iron ore ?
Answer:
Magnetite, hematite.

Question 16. 
Write any four uses of manganese ore ?
Answer:

• Manganese is used for iron and steel.
• It acts as the basic raw material for manufacturing its alloy.
• It is also used for manufacturing bleaching powder.
• It is used for making insecticides.

Question 17. 
Write the uses of copper.
Answer:
Being malleable, ductile and a good conductor, copper is mainly used in electrical cables, electronics and chemical industries.

Question 18. 
What are the used of limestone ?
Answer:
Limestone is the basic raw material for the cement industry essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnace.

Question 19. 
Write four, names of conventional sources of energy. 
Answer:

• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural gas 
• Hydroelectricity 

Question 20. 
Write the names of non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer:
Wind power, solar energy, bio-gas energy, tidal energy, geo-thermal energy.

Question 21. 
Write any two ways to conserve mineral resources.
Answer:

• Wastage of minerals should be minimized.
• Export of minerals should be minimized.

Question 22. 
In which states of India are thë tertiary coals found ?
Answer:
Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland.

Question 23. 
Write the names of two petroleum producing areas of India.
Answer:
Mumbai High, Digboy, Naharkatia, Moran, Hugrijan in Assam.

Question 24. 
Name two multipurpose projects which generate electricity.
Answer:
Bhakra Nangal and Damodar Valley projects.

Question 25. 
What is geothermal energy?
Answer:
Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the earth.

Question 26. 
Which is the largest solar plant of India ?
Answer:
Madhapur (Bhuj).

Question 27. 
Write the names of the main source of energy in India.
Answer:
Coal.

Question 28. 
Which place provides ideal conditions for utilizing tidal energy in India ?
Answer:
Gulf of Kutchchh. 

Question 29. 
Why coal is called "black gold” ?
Answer:
Coal provides a substantial part of the nation's energy needs. Due to many uses of the coal, it is called the “black gold”.

Question 30. 
Name two experimental projects in India to harness geothermal energy.
Answer:

• Parvati valley near Manika a (Himachal Pradesh)
• Puga valley (Ladakh).

Question 31. 
Write two ways to develop sustainable path of the energy development.
Answer:

• Promotion of energy conservation.
• Increased use of renewable energy resources. 

Short Answer Type Questions (Type-I)

Question 1. 
Name the two rock series of two main geological ages in which coal occurs.
Answer:
Coal occurs from the following two rock series of two main geological ages :

• Gondwana
• Tertiary.

Question 2. 
Why is mica one of the most indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries ?
Answer:
Due to its excellent di-electric strength, no power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is the most indispensable mineral used in electric and electronic industries.

Question 3. 
Match the following : 

Non-conventional sources of energy	Located area
(i) Solar energy	(a) Gulf of Kuchchh
(ii) Wind energy	(b) Bhuj (Madhapur)
(iii) Tidal energy	(c) Ladakh
(iv) Geothermal energy	(d) Jaisalmer

Answer:

Non-conventional sources of energy	Located area
(i) Solar energy	(b) Bhuj (Madhapur)
(ii) Wind energy	(d) Jaisalmer
(iii) Tidal energy	(a) Gulf of Kuchchh
(iv) Geothermal energy	(c) Ladakh

Question 4. 
Match the following: 

Mineral	Place
(a) Iron ore mines	(1) Amarkantak
(b) Mica	(2) Mayurbhanj
(c) Bauxite	(3) Nagpur
(d) Manganese	(4) Nellore

Answer:

Mineral	Place
(a) Iron ore mines	(2) Mayurbhanj
(b) Mica	(4) Nellore
(c) Bauxite	(1) Amarkantak
(d) Manganese	(3) Nagpur

Question 5. 
For what purpose the atomic or nuclear power is used in India ? Name any two atomic energy plants in India.
Answer:
Atomic energy is used in India for generating atomic or nuclear power.
Atomic energy plants in India are situated at : Kaiga, Rawatbhata, Tarapur, Kalapakkam and Narora.

Question 6. 
Write the producing areas of mica in India.
Answer:
Mica deposits are found in the northern edge of the Chhotanagpur plateau, Koderma Gaya Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer.
In Rajasthan, the major mica producing area is around Ajmer. Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh is also a major producer in the country.

Question 7. 
A bright smile from toothpaste and minerals. explain the statement.
Answer:
Fluoride which is used to reduce cavities, comes from a mineral fluorite. Most toothpastes are made white with titanium oxide, which comes from minerals called rutile, ilmenite and anatase. The sparkle in toothpastes comes from mica.

Question 8. 
What are the uses of manganese in India ?
Answer:

• Manganese is used for making iron and steel.
• It acts as the basic raw material for manufacturing its alloy.
• It is also used for manufacturing bleaching powder.
• It is used for making insecticides.

Question 9. 
For which two common merits, copper and aluminium are considered very useful minerals?
Answer:
Copper: Copper is a non-ferrous metal. Its main properties are (merits)

• Malleability (common merit) 
• Ductility
• Good conductivity, i.e., a good conductor : (common merit).

Aluminium: It is an important metal because it combines the strength of metals such as iron, with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great malleability (common merit).
Malleability and good conductivity are the common merit which is useful in both minerals.

Question 10. 
Match the following: 

State	Atomic power plant
(a) Uttar Pradesh	(i) Kalapakkam
(b) Karnataka	(ii) Kakrapara
(c) Gujarat	(iii) Narora
(d) Tamil Nadu	(iv) Kaiga

Answer:

State	Atomic power plant
(a) Uttar Pradesh	(iii) Narora
(b) Karnataka	(iv) Kaiga
(c) Gujarat	(ii) Kakrapara
(d) Tamil Nadu	(i) Kalapakkam

Question 11. 
Write some measures to conserve the minerals.
Answer:

• The minerals should be used in a planned and judicious way.
• Wastage of minerals should be minimized.
• Export of minerals should be minimized.
• We should encourage recycling of metals.
• Modern technology should be used for the exploitation of minerals.

Question 12. 
Write the steps for the conservation of energy resources.
Answer:
Energy is a basic requirement for economic development.

• In this background, there is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development.
• Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of renewable energy resources are the twin plans of sustainable energy.
• We have to adopt our cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources.

Question 13. 
All living things need minerals - explain the statement.
Answer:
Life, processes cannot occur without minerals. Although our mineral intake represents only about 0.3% of our total intake of nutrients, they are so potent and important that without them we would not be able to utilise the other 99.7% of food stuffs.

Question 14. 
Make a chart of classification of minerals. 
Answer:

Question 15. 
Write a short note about the study of minerals by geographers and geologists.
Answer:
Geographers study minerals as part of the earth’s crust for a better understanding of land forms. The distribution of mineral resources and associated economic activities are of interest of geographers.

A geologist, however, is interested in the formation of minerals, their age, physical and chemical composition.

Question 16. 
Write a short note on rat-hole mining.
Answer:
Most of the minerals in India are nationalised and their extraction is possible only after obtaining due permission from the government. But in most of the tribal areas of the north-east India, minerals are owned by individuals or communities.

In Meghalaya, there are large deposits of coal, iron, landstone, dolomite etc. Coal mining in Meghalaya (Cherrapunji) is done by family members in the form of a long narrow tunnel known as rat hole mining.

Question 17. 
In which form minerals occur in alluvial deposits?
Answer:
Minerals may occur in alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills. These deposits are called placer deposits, generally contain minerals, which are not corroded by water (gold, silver, tin, platinum).

Question 18. 
Write the characteristics of mica.
Answer:

• Mica is a non-metallic mineral made up of a series of plates or leaves.
• It splits easily into thin sheets. 
• It can be transparent.
• It can be black, green, red, yellow or brown.
• It has excellent di-electric strength, no power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.

Question 19. 
Write a short note on limestone.
Answer:

• Limestone is found in association with rocks composed of calcium carbonates or calcium and magnesium carbonates.
• It is found in sedimentary rocks of most geological formations.
• Limestone is the basic raw material for the cement industry and essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnace.

Question 20. 
Write a short note on wind energy.
Answer:
Inda now ranks as a “wind super power” in the world. The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoil to Madurai. Apart from these Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Lakshadweep have important wind farms. Nagarcoil and Jaisalmer are well known for effective use of wind energy in the country.

Question 21. 
Why are heavy industries and thermal power stations set up on or near coal fields ?
Answer:
Coal is a bulky material, which loses weight on use as it is reduced to ash. Hence, heavy industries and thermal power stations are located on or near the coalfields. 

Short Answer Type Questions (Type-II)

Question 1. 
What is mineral ? Why is there variety in minerals ?
Or 
What charactersties do geologists classify minerals ?
Answer:
Mineral Geologists define mineral as a “homogenous naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.”

Diversity/variety in minerals- Minerals are found in varied forms in nature. Rocks are combinations of homogenous substances called minerals. Some rocks, for instance limestone, consist of a single mineral only, but majority of the rock consist of serval minerals in varying proportions. Till now over 2000 minerals have been identified, only a few are abundantly found in most of the rocks. A particular mineral that will be formed from a certain combination of elements depends upon the physical and chemcial conditions under which the material forms. Therefore, there is variety in minerals.

Geologists use following properties to classify the minerals:

• Colour
• hardness
• luster
• density
• crystal form etc.

Question 2. 
Write a short note on bio-gas.
Answer:

• Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas.
• Decomposition of organic matter yields gas which has higher thermal efficiency in comparison to kerosene, dung cake and charcoal.
• Biogas plants are setup at municipal, co-operative and individual levels. The plants using cattle dung are known as Gobar gas plants in rural India.
• These provide twin benefits to the farmers in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
• Biogas is by far the most efficient use of cattle dung. It improves the quality of manure and also prevents the loss of trees manure due to burning of fuel woods and cow dung cakes.

Question 3. 
What is the importance of minerals?
Answer:
Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives or for an economy because :

• Everything we use, from a tiny pin to towering building or a bus or a big ship, all are made from minerals.
• The country earns foreign exchange from the export of minerals.
• Mining and extraction of minerals provide employment to the people.
• Minerals like coal and petroleum are also the main sources of power.

Question 4. 
India is fortunate to have fairly rich and varied mineral resources, but these are unevenly distributed - explain the statement
Answer:
India is fortunate to have fairly rich and varied mineral resources, but these are unevenly distributed because :

• Peninsula rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many other non-metallic minerals.
• Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula, in Gujarat and Assam, have most of the petroleum deposits.
• Rajasthan with the rock systems of the peninsula has reserve of many non-ferrous minerals.
• The vast alluvial plains of north India are also devoid of economic minerals.

This variation exists largely because of the differences in the geological structure, processes and time involved in the formation of minerals.

Question 5. 
What are the uses and producing areas of copper in India?
Answer:
Uses of copper- India is critically deficient of reserves and production of copper. Being malleable, ductile and a good conductor, copper is mainly used in electrical cables, electronic and chemical industries. 

Producing areas- The Balaghat mines in Madhya Pradesh produce 52% of India's copper. The Singhbhum district of Jharkhand is also a leading producer of copper. The Khetri mines in Rajasthan are also famous.

Question 6. 
According to general utility in which two types are minerals divided? Write two features of each type of mineral.
Answer:
There are two types of minerals according to their general utility.

1. Metallic minerals. 
2. Non-metallic minerals. 

Metallic minerals :

• Metals are malleable, i.e., they can be beaten into sheets (bauxite).
• Metals are good conductor of heat and electricity (copper).

Non-metallic minerals : 

• Non-metals are brittle in nature (mica). 
• Non-metals are not ductile.

Question 7. 
What are the impacts of mining on the health of the miners and environment?
Or
What are the dangers involved in mining ?
Answer:
The impacts of mining on the health of the miners and environment-

• The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by the miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
• The risk of collapsing of mine roofs, inundation and fires in coal mines are a constant threat to miners.
• The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.
• Dumping of wastes and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil and increase in stream and river pollution.

Question 8. 
Write a short note on tidal energy.
Answer:
Tidal Energy- Tidal energy is produced by the use of oceanic tides.

Flood gate dams are built across inlets. During high tide, water flows into the inlet and gets trapped when the gate is closed. After the tide falls outside the flood gate, the water retained by the flood gate flows back to the sea via a pipe that carries it through a power generating turbine.

In India, the Gulf of Khambhat the Gulf of kuchchh in Gujarat on the wertern coast and Gangetic delta in sumderban regions of west Bengal provide ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy.

Question 9. 
Write the ways to get energy in rural areas of India.
Answer:
Energy is required for all activities.

• In rural areas, fire wood and cattle dung cakes are most common and important sources of energy.
• According to one estimate, more than 70% energy requirement in rural households is made by these two.
• Continuation of these is increasingly becoming difficult due to decrease in forest area.
• Moreover, using dung cake too is being discouraged because it consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture.

Question 10. 
What is the use of non-conventional sources of energy needed ?
Answer:

• The growing consumption of energy has resulted in the country becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas.
• Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortage have raised uncertainties about the security of the supply in future which in turn has serious repercussions on the growth of the national economy.
• Increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental problems.
• There is a pressing need to use renewable energy resources like solar energy, wind, tide, biogas etc.
• India is blessed with an abundance of sunlight, water, wind and biomass. These are renewable and pollution free energy resources.

Question 11. 
Differentiate between natural gas and biogas.
Answer:

Natural Gas	Biogas
(i) It is a mixture of combustible, gaseous hydrocarbon and non-hydro carbons occurring frequently with petroleum in the rocks of the earth crust.	(i) Biogas is formed by the decomposition of animals and plant wastes with the help of micro-organisms in the presence of water.
(ii) It is used as a raw material in the petro chemicals.	(ii) It is used as a fuel and for lighting homes.
(iii) It is transported from one place to another through pipelines.	(iii) This gas provides twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
(iv) It is mainly used in urban areas.	(iv)It is mainly used in rural area.

Question 12. 
Coal is used as a main source of energy and also used as a raw material in industries. justify the statement.
Answer:
Coal is the most available and widely used source of energy.
As a source of energy- It is used for power generation, to supply energy to industry as well as for domestic needs.

As a raw material in industries :

• It is used as a raw material in the making of coal-tar and coal-gas.
• In railways and industries, it is used as fuel to run steam engines.
• Coking coal is also essential for smelting iron-ore in blast furnaces.

Question 13. 
Write the formation of coal and also classify coal.
Answer:
Formation of coal : Coal is formed due to decomposition of organic matter like plants, vegetation buried under the earth crust millions of years ago.
The variety of coal depends on the degrees of compression and depth and time of burial.

Classification:

• Anthracite- It is the best quality and contains more than 80% quality carbon.
• Bituminous- It is widely used variety of coal and contain 60-80% carbon. Metallurigcal coal is high grade bituminous coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.
• Lignite- It is of lower grade and is known as brown coal.
• Peat- Decaying plants in swamps produce peat. It is of low quality and so it burns like wood and gives more smoke and less heat.

Question 14. 
Distinguish between metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals.
Answer:

Metallic minerals	Non-metallic minerals
(i) Metals are malleable, i.e. they can be beaten into sheets.	(i) Non-metals are brittle in nature
(ii) Metals are ductile, i.e., they can be drawn into wires.	(ii) Non-metals are not ductile.
(iii) Metals are good conductor of heat and electricity	(iii) Non-metals are bad conductor of heat and electricity except graphite.
(iv) All metals are solid except mercury	(iv) Non-metals may be solid, liquid or gas.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Where are the minerals found?
Answer:
Minerals are usually found in "ores”. The term ore is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with the other elements. The type of formation or structure in which they are found determines the relative ease with which mineral ores may be mined.

It is important for us to understand the main types of formation in which minerals occur. Minerals generally occur in these forms :
(i) In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints. Smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger are called lodes. In most cases, they are formed when minerals in liquid/molten and gaseous forms are forced upwards through cavities towards the earth surface. They cool and solidify as they rise. Major metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are obtained from veins and loads.

(ii) In sedimentary rocks, a number of minerals occur in beds or layers. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata. Coal and some forms of iron ore have been concentrated as a result of long periods under great heat and pressure. Another group of sedimentary minerals include gypsum, potash salt and sodium salt. These are formed as a result of evaporation especially in arid region.

(iii) Another mode of formation involves the decomposition of surface rocks, and the removal of soluble constituents, leaving up residual mass of weathered material containing ores. Bauxite is formed this way.

(iv) Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills. These deposits are called “placer deposits” and generally contain minerals, which are not corroded by water. Gold, silver, tin and platinum are most important among such minerals.

(v) The ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, but most of these are too widely diffused to be of economic significance. Common .salt, magnesium and bromine are largely derived from ocean water. The ocean beds, too, are rich in manganese nodules.

Question 2. 
Describe the iron ore belts which are found in India.
Answer:
The major iron ore belts in India are :
(i) Odisha-Jharkhand belt : In Orissa high grade hematite ore is found in Badam Pahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts. In the adjoining Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, hematite iron ore is mined in Gua and Noamundi.

(ii) Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt : It lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Very high grade hematite are found in the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Baster district of Chhattisgarh. It has the best physical properties needed for steel making. Iron ore from these mines is exported to Japan and South Korea via Vishakhapatnam port.

(iii) Bellary-Chitradurga: ChikamagalurTumkur belt : This belt lies in Karnataka as large reserve of iron ore. Kudremukh deposits are known to be one of the largest in the world. The ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangalore.

(iv) Maharashtra-Goa belt: includes the state of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Though the ores are not of very high quality. They are exported through Marmagao port. 

Question 3. 
Explain the significance and distribution of bauxite in India.
Answer:
Bauxite: Though, several ores contain aluminium, it is from bauxite, a clay-like substance that alumina and later aluminium is obtained. Bauxite deposits are formed by the decomposition of a wide variety of rocks rich in aluminium silicates.

Significance : Aluminium is an important metal because it combines the strength of metals such as iron, with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and malleability.

Distribution : India's bauxite deposits are mainly found in the Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni. Odisha is the largest bauxite producing state in India (49% production of bauxite-2016-17).

Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are the most important bauxite deposits in the state.

Question 4. 
Write the significance and distribution of mica in India.
Answer:
Mica: Mica is a non-metallic mineral which is made up of series of plates or leaves. It splits easily into thin sheets. Mica can be clear, black, green, red-yellow or brown.

Significance : Due to its excellent dielectric strength, no power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is the most indispensable mineral used in electric and electronic industries.

Distribution : Mica deposits are found in the northern edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau. Koderma Gaya-Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer.
In Rajasthan, the major mica producing area is around Ajmer. Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh is also an important producer in the country

Question 5. 
Write the names of various sources of conventional energy. Briefly describe any one.
Or
What are the uses of petroleum ? Write a note on occurrence of petroleum in India?
Answer:
Conventional Energy Sources, The main conventional energy sources are-
(1) Coal. (2) Petroleum, (3) Natural gas, (4) Electricity:
According to question description of any one source of conventional energy is as follows

Petroleum: Petroleum or mineral oil is the next major energy source in India after coal.
Uses: It is the major source of power for vehicles.
It provides the most important lubricating agent and is used as important raw material. Petroleum industry acts as a “nodel industry” for many industries like textile, fertilizer and chemical industries.

Occurrence in India: Most of the petroleum occurrences in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age. In regions of folding anticlines or domes it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold. The oil bearing laver is a porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may flow. The oil is prevented from rising or sinking by intervening non-porous layers.

Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks. Gas, being lighter usually occurs above the oil.

Distribution: Mumbai high, Gujarat and Assam are major petroleum production areas in India. Ankleshwar is the most important field in Gujarat. Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India. Digboi, Naharkatiya and MoranHugrijan are the important oil fields in the state. 

Question 6. 
Write the significance of natural gas. Write the producing areas of natural gas and describe the important pipelines in India.
Answer:
Significance: Natural gas is an important, clean energy resource found in association with or without petroleum. It is used as a source of energy as well as industrial raw material in the petro-chemical industry.

Natural gas is considered as an environment friendly fuel because of low carbon dioxide emission and is therefore, fuel for the present century.

Distribution: Large reserves of natural gas have been discovered in the KrishnaGodavari basin. Along the west coast the reserves of the Mumbai High and allied fields are supplemented by the fields in the Gulf of Cambay. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also important areas having large reserves of natural gas.

Important pipelines: The 1700 km long Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) cross country gas pipeline links Mumbai High and Bassien with the fertilizer, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India. This artery has provided an impetus to India's gas production. The power and the fertilizer industries are the key users of natural gas. Use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles to replace liquid fuels is gaining wide popularity in the country

Question 7. 
Write a short note on Geothermal Energy.
Or 
What is geothermal energy ? How is it produced? Write a short note on the development of geothermal energy in India.
Answer:
Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the earth.

Origin: Geothermal exists because the earth grows progressively hotter with increasing depth. Where the geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures are found at shallow depths. Ground water in such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot. It is so hot that when it rises to the earth surface, it turns into steam. This steam is used to drive turbines and generate electricity.

Founding areas in India : There are several hundred hot springs in India which could be used to generate electricity. Two experimental projects have been set up in India to harness geothermal energy. One is located in the Parvati valley near Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and the other is located in the Puga valley, Ladakh.

Question 8. 
Discuss non-conventional sources of energy in India, in detail.
Answer:
India is blessed with an abundance of sunlight, water, wind and biomass. It has the largest programmes for the development of this renewable and pollution free sources of energy.

(i) Solar energy: India is a tropical country. It has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy. Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas. The . largest solar plant in India is located at Madhapur, near Bhuj, where solar energy is used to sterilize milk cans.

(ii) Wind power: India now ranks as a "wind super power” in the world. The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoli to Madurai. Apart from these Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Lakshadweep have important wind farms. Nagarcoli and Jaisalmer are well known for effective use of wind energy in the country.

(iii) Biogas: Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas. Decomposition of organic matter yields gas which has higher thermal efficiency in comparison to kerosene, dung cake and charcoal. Biogas plants are setup at municipal, co-operative and individual levels. The plants using cattle dung are known as Gobar gas plants in rural India. These provide twin benefits to the farmers in the form of energy and improved quality of manure. Biogas is by far the most efficient use of cattle dung. It improves the quality of manure and also prevents the loss of trees and manure due to burning of fuel woods and cow dung cakes.

(iv) Geothermal energy: Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the earth.

There are several hundred hot springs in India, which could be used to generate electricity. Two experimental projects have been set up in India to harness geothermal energy. One is located in the Parvati valley near Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and the other is located in the Puga valley, Ladakh.

(v) Tidal energy: Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity.
Flood gate dams are built across inlets. During high tide, water flows into the inlet and gets trapped when the gate is closed. After the tide falls outside the flood gate, the water retained by the flood gate flows back to the sea through a pipe that carries it through a power generating turbine.

In India, the Gulf of Khembhat, the Gulf of Kuchchh, in Gujarat on the western coast and Gangetic delta in sunderban regions of West Bengal provide ideal conditions for utilizing tidal energy.

Question 9. 
Describe the need and measures for conservation of evergy resources.
Answer:
Need for conservation of energy resources:

• Energy is required for all activities. It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to propel vehicles and to drive machinery in industries.
• Energy is a basic requirement for economic development. Every sector of the national economy-agriculture, indurstry, transport, commerical and domestic-need inputs of energy.
• The economic development plans implemented since Independence necessarily required increasing amounts of energy to remain operational.
• Consumption of energy in all forms has been stedily rising all over the country.

Energy Conservation Measures:

• Sustainable path of energy should be developed. Promotion of energy conservation and increased use of renewable energy sources and the twin planks of sustainabl energy.
• We should adopt a cautions approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources. For example, as concerned citizens we can do our bit by using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles; switching off electricity when not in use, using power saving devices and using non-conventional sources of energy.
• Energy saved is energy produced.