RBSE Class 8 Social Science Important Questions Geography Chapter 3 Mineral and Power Resources

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 8 Social Science Important Questions Geography Chapter 3 Mineral and Power Resources Important Questions and Answers.

RBSE Class 8 Social Science Important Questions Geography Chapter 3 Mineral and Power Resources

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. 
Which of the following minerals is metallic
(a) Iron-ore 
(b) Bauxite
(c) Manganese 
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Question 2. 
Which of the following minerals is non-metallic
(a) Limestone
(b) Mica
(c) Gypsum 
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Question 3. 
When deep wells are excavated to extract minerals, it is called
(a) Open-cast mining 
(b) Shafts mining 
(c) Quarrying  
(d) Drilling 
Answer:
(b) Shafts mining

Question 4. 
The largest producer of diamond, gold, and platinum is
(a) India 
(b) Africa
(c) Europe 
(d) Australia 
Answer:
(b) Africa

Question 5. 
Which mineral deposits are found in the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie areas of western Australia
(a) Coal 
(b) Petrol
(c) Gold 
(d) Iron ore 
Answer:
(c) Gold 

Question 6. 
Extraction of minerals by intensive drilling at greater depth is called
(a) Drilling 
(b) Shaft mining
(c) Quarrying 
(d) Open-cast mining
Answer: 
(a) Drilling 

 
Question 7.
Aluminum is used in
(a) Automobiles and airplanes
(b) Bottling industry
(c) Making kitchen utensils 
(d) All of the above 
Answer:
(d) All of the above 

Question 8. 
Conventional sources of energy include
(a) Mineral oil 
(b) Natural gas
(c) Coal 
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above 
 
Question 9. 
Which of the following is a non-conventional source of energy
(a) Wind energy 
(b) Solar energy
(c) Tidal energy 
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above 

Fill in the blanks

Question 1. 
A naturally occurring substance that has a definite chemical composition is a ...................
Answer:
mineral 
 
Question 2. 
Iron ore, manganese, and chromites are ...................minerals.
Answer:
ferrous

Question 3.
Limestone, mica, gypsum, etc. are the example of ................... minerals.
Answer:
Non-ferrous

Question 4. 
The process of taking out minerals from rocks buried under the earth’s surface is called ...................
Answer:
mining

Question 5. 
Minerals that lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer, this is known as ...................
Answer:
open-cast mining

Question 6. 
Electricity obtained from coal is called ...................
Answer:
thermal power.

State True or False

Question 1. 
There are no known mineral deposits in Switzerland.
Answer:
True

Question 2. 
Non-metallic minerals are lustrous.
Answer:
False

Question 3. 
Salt included in our diet is also a mineral.
Answer:
True

Question 4. 
Atomic energy is a non-conventional source of energy.
Answer:
True

Question 5. 
The oldest rocks in the world are found in western America.
Answer:
False

Match Correctly

(a)	(b)
Worlds first hydropower producer	U.S.A. producer
World's first solar and wind-powered bus shelter	India
Nuclear power station Kalpakkam	Scotland
World’s first tidal energy station	France
World’s largest geothermal power plant	Norway

Answer:

(a)	(b)
Worlds first hydropower producer	Norway
World's first solar and wind-powered bus shelter	Scotland
Nuclear power station Kalpakkam	India
World’s first tidal energy station	France
World’s largest geothermal power plant	The USA.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
What is a mineral?
Answer:
A naturally occurring substance that has a definite chemical composition is a mineral.

Question 2. 
Name any two metallic and non-metallic minerals.
Answer:
Metallic minerals: iron ore, copper. 
Non-metallic minerals: coal, limestone.

Question 3. 
What is mining?
Answer:
The process of taking out minerals from rocks buried under the earth’s surface is called mining.

Question 4. 
What types of minerals are found in sedimentary rocks?
Answer:
Sedimentary rocks mainly contain non-metallic minerals.

Question 5. 
Which minerals are mainly found in Asia? 
Answer:
The .major minerals found in Asia are:
iron ore, tin, lead, antimony, tungsten, manganese, bauxite, nickel, zinc, and copper.

Question 6. 
Which country is the largest producer of high-quality iron ore?
Answer:
Brazil is the largest producer of high-grade iron ore in the world.

Question 7. 
Which country is the largest producer of bauxite in the world?
Answer:
Australia is the largest producer of bauxite in the world.

Question 8. 
What do you mean by a rock?
Answer:
A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals but without definite composition of constituents of minerals.

Question 9. 
Give any two uses of natural gas.
Answer:

1. Natural gas can easily be transported by pipelines.
2. Natural gas is cleaner than oil and coal.

Question 10. 
Name any two conventional sources of energy.
Answer:

1. Mineral oil
2. Natural gas.

Question 11. 
State any two benefits of hydel power.
Answer:

1. It is a good source of energy.
2. It promotes irrigation and fisheries.

Question 12. 
Where do you find the natural gas reserves in India?
Answer:
The natural gas reserves in India are found in Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta, Tripura, and some areas offshore in Mumbai.

Question 13. 
State any two disadvantages of wind energy as a source of energy.
Answer:

1. It is expensive to install windmills.
2. This causes interference in radio and Doordarshan broadcasting signals.

Question 14. 
Name any two non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer:

1. Solar energy 
2. Biogas.

Question 15. 
Give any two benefits of biogas.
Answer:

1. The cost of biogas is very low.
2. Biogas is very easy to use.

Question 16. 
Justify the use of solar energy.
Answer:
Solar energy is used in solar heaters, solar cookers, and solar dryers as well as in community lighting and traffic indicators.

Question 17. 
What is geothermal energy?
Answer:
The energy obtained from the earth is called geothermal energy.

Question 18. 
State any two benefits of solar energy. 
Answer:

1. It is an endless source of energy.
2. It does not cause pollution.

Question 19. 
Which country is the largest producer and exporter of mica in the world?
Answer:
In the world, the largest producer and exporter of mica is India.

Question 20. 
What is open-cast mining?
Answer:
Minerals that lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer; this is known as open-cast mining.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
What do you understand by minerals? 
Answer:
A naturally occurring substance that has a definite chemical composition is a mineral. Minerals are found in different types of rock formations that are not evenly distributed in the world. They are created by natural processes without any human interference. They can be identified on the basis of their physical properties such as color, density; hardness, and chemical properties such as solubility. Minerals are broadly categorized into two types: metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals.

Question 2. 
Explain the types of minerals.
Answer:
Minerals are classified into two major types:
(1) Metallic minerals:
Metallic minerals contain metal in raw form. They are mainly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Its examples are iron ore, copper, silver, manganese, and bauxite. Metallic minerals are two types: ferrous and non-ferrous minerals.

(2) Non-metallic minerals:
These minerals do not contain any metal, e.g. limestone, mica, gypsum, coal, etc. This mineral is mainly found in sedimentary rocks.

Question 3. 
Explain the various methods of extraction of minerals.
Answer:
Minerals are extracted by the following methods
(1) Open-cast mining:
Minerals that lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer; this is known as open-cast mining.

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

(3) Drilling:
Petroleum and natural gas occur far below the earth’s surface. Deep wells are bored to take them out, this is called drilling.

(4) Quarrying:
Minerals that lie near the surface are simply, dugout, out by the process known as quarrying.

Question 4. 
Explain the uses of minerals.
Answer:
Minerals are used in many industries. In many industries, minerals are used as raw materials. Gems, gold, silver, etc. are used to make jewelry. Copper is another metal used in everything from coins to pipes. Silicon, used in the computer industry is obtained from quartz. Aluminum obtained from its ore bauxite is used in automobiles and airplanes, bottling industry; buildings, and even in kitchen cookware. Coal, petroleum, etc. are used as fuel. Iron ore is used in different industries.

Question 5. 
What is the need for the conservation of minerals?
Answer:
Minerals are a non-renewable resource. It takes thousands of years for the formation and concentration of minerals. The rate of formation is much smaller than the rate at which humans consume these minerals. It is necessary to reduce wastage in the process of mining. Recycling metals is another way in which the mineral resources can be conserved. 

Question 6. 
Write a brief note on the conventional sources of energy.
Answer:
Conventional sources of energy are those which have been in common use for a long time. Firewood and fossil fuels are the two main conventional energy sources. Mineral oil, natural gas, coal, hydel power, and petroleum are also included in the major sources of conventional sources of energy. Most the conventional sources of energy are nonrenewable and it takes thousands of years in their form. Excessive use of conventional energy sources may exhaust them soon.

Question 7. 
Write a brief note on the non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer:
Non-conventional sources of energy have been used for the last few years and their use is increasing continuously. Non-conventional sources of energy include wind energy; solar energy, tidal energy; nuclear energy, biogas, geothermal energy, etc. Non-conventional sources of energy are renewable and these sources also cause less environmental pollution. The use of these sources will reduce the risk of conventional sources being eliminated.

Question 8.
State the advantages and disadvantages of mineral oil as a conventional source of energy.
Answer:
Mineral oil is an important source of energy Its advantages and disadvantages are as follows.
Advantages of mineral oil:

1. Mineral oil is easily transported in pipelines and tankers. 
2. Mineral oil is the basis of the petrol-chemical industry.

Disadvantages of mineral oil:

1. Depletion of oxygen due to oil spillage and gas leakage.
2. Pollutants released caused acid rain.
3. Exploration of new fuel is not easy.

Question 9. 
State the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy, a non-conventional source of energy.
Answer:
Advantages of wind energy:

1. Wind energy does not cause environmental pollution.
2. Low-cost production of electricity is set up once.
3. Wind energy is very safe and clean. 

Disadvantages of wind energy:

1. Wind energy causes noise pollution.
2. Setting up windmills is costly.
3. Disturbs radio and T.V. reception.
4. Wind energy is also harmful to birds.

Question 10. 
Write a note on hydel power.
Answer:
Rainwater or river water stored in dams is made to fall from heights. The falling water flows through pipes inside the dam over turbine blades placed at the bottom of the dam. The moving blades then turn the generator to produce electricity. This is called hydroelectricity. The water discharged after the generation of electricity is used for irrigation. One-fourth of the world’s electricity is produced by hydel power. The leading producers of hydel power in the world are Paraguay, Norway, Brazil, and China. Some important hydel power stations in India are Bhakra Nangal, Gandhi Sagar, Nagarjunsagar and Damodaf-Valley projects.

Question 11. 
Describe the major minerals found in Asia and Europe.
Answer:
Asia:
China and India have large iron ore deposits. The continent produces more than half of the. world’s tin. China. Malaysia and Indonesia are among the world's leading tin producers. China also leads in the production of lead. antimony and tungsten. Asia also has deposits of manganese, bauxite, nickel, zinc and copper. 

Europe:
Europe is the leading producer of iron- ore in the world. The countries with large deposits of iron ore are Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and France. Minerals deposits of copper, lead, zinc, manganese and nickel are found in eastern Europe and European Russia.

Question 12. 
Write a brief note on wind energy. 
Answer:
The wind is an inexhaustible source of energy. Windmills have been used for grinding grain and lifting water since times immemorial. In modem time windmills, the high-speed winds rotate the windmill which is connected to a generator to produce electricity. Wind farms having clusters of such windmills are located in coastal regions and in mountain passes where strong and steady winds blow. Windfarms found in Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, USA, and Spain are noted for their wind energy production.

Question 13. 
Write a brief note on geothermal energy.
Answer:
Heat energy obtained from the earth is called geothermal energy. The temperature in the interior of the earth rises steadily as we go deeper. Sometimes this heat energy may surface itself in the form of hot springs. This heat energy can be used to generate power.
Geothermal energy in the form of hot springs has been used for cooking, heating, and bathing for several years. The USA has the world's largest geothermal power plants followed by New Zealand. Iceland, Philippines, and Central America. In India, geothermal plants are located in Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and Puga Valley in Ladakh.

Question 14. 
Write a brief note on coal, a conventional source of energy.
Answer:
Coal is the most abundantly found fossil fuel. It is used as a domestic fuel, in industries such as iron arid steel, steam engines and to generate electricity. Electricity from coal is called thermal power. The leading coal producers in the world are China. USA, Germany, Russia, South Africa, and France. The coal-producing areas of India are Raniganj, Jharia, Dhanbad, and Bokaro in Jharkhand.

Question 15. 
Write a brief note on natural gas. 
Answer:
Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits and is released when crude oil is brought to the surface. It can be used as a domestic and industrial fuel. Russia, Norway, the UK, and the Netherlands are the major producers of natural gas. In India Jaisalmer, Krishna Godavari delta, Tripura and some areas offshore in Mumbai have natural gas resources.

Question 16. 
Draw a biogas plant.
Answer:

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
Explain the distribution of minerals in different countries of the world.
Answer:
The distribution of minerals in different countries of the world is as follows:
1. Asia:
China and India have large iron ore deposits. China, Malaysia, and Indonesia are among the world’s leading tin producers. China also leads in the production of lead, antimony, and tungsten. Asia also has deposits of manganese, bauxite, nickel, zinc, and copper.

2. Europe:
Europe is the leading producer of iron ore in the world. The countries with large deposits of iron ore are Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, and France. Minerals deposits of copper, lead, zinc, manganese, and nickel are found in eastern Europe and European Russia.

3. North America:
The mineral deposits in North America are located in three zones the Canadian, region north of the Great Lakes, the Appalachian region, and the mountain ranges of the west. Iron ore, nickel, gold, uranium, and copper are mined in the Canadian Shield region, and coal in the Appalachian region. Western Cordilleras have vast deposits of copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver.

4. South America:
Brazil is the largest producer of high-grade iron ore in the world. Chile and Peru are leading producers of copper. Brazil and Bolivia are among the world’s largest producers of tin. South America also has large deposits of gold, silver, zinc, chromium, manganese, bauxite, mica, platinum, asbestos, and diamond. Mineral oil is found in Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Columbia.

5. Africa:
Africa is rich in mineral resources. It is the world’s largest producer of diamonds, gold and platinum. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zaire produce a large portion of the world’s gold. The other minerals found in Africa are copper, iron ore, chromium, uranium, cobalt and bauxite. Oil is found in Nigeria, Libya and Angola.

6. Australia:
Australia is the largest producer of bauxite in the world. It is a leading producer of gold, diamond, iron ore, tin and nickel. It is also rich in copper, lead, zinc and manganese. Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie area of western Australia have the largest deposits of gold.

7. Antarctica:
The geology of Antarctica is sufficiently well known to predict the existence of a variety of mineral deposits, some probably large. The significant size of deposits of coal in the Transantarctic Mountains and iron near the Prince Charles Mountains of East Antarctica is forecasted. Iron ore, gold, silver and oil are also present in commercial quantities.

Question 2. 
Explain the conventional sources of energy or power.
Answer:
Conventional sources of energy. Conventional sources are those which have been in common use for a long time. The major conventional sources are as follows:
1. Firewood:
It is widely used for cooking and heating. In our country, more than fifty percent of the energy used by villagers comes from firewood. It causes air pollution but it is still the main source of energy.

2. Coal:
This is the most abundantly found fossil fuel. It is used as a domestic fuel, in industries such as iron and steel, steam engines and to generate electricity.The leading coal producers of the world are China, the USA, Germany, Russia, South Africa and France. The coal-producing areas of India are Raniganj, Jharia, Dhanbad and Bokaro in Jharkhand.

3. Petroleum:
It is an importent natural resource. During the processing of petroleum different produtcs are obtained like diesel, petrol, kerosene, wax, plastic and lubricants. The chief petroleum-producing countries are Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The leading producers in India are Digboi in Assam, Bombay High in Mumbai and the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

4. Natural gas:
Natural gas is found with petroleum deposits and is released when crude oil is brought to the surface. It can be used as a domestic and industrial fuel. Russia, Norway, UK and the Netherlands are the major producers of natural gas. In India Jaisalmer, Krishan Godavari delta, Tripura and some area offshore in Mumbai have natural gas resources.

5. Hydel power:
Rainwater or river water stored in dams i§ made to fall from heights. One fourth of the world’s electricity is produced by hydel power. The leading producers of hydel power in the world are Paraguay, Norway, Brazil and China. Some important hydel power stations in India are Bhakra Nangal, Gandhi Sagar, Nagaijunsagar and Damodar valley projects. 

Question 3. 
Explain the non-conventional sources of energy or power.
Answer:
Non-conventional sources of energy:
The reserves of conventional sources of energy are limited, so the use of non-conventional sources is rapidly increasing in the past years. The non-conventional sources of energy or power are as follows:

1. Solar energy:
Solar energy is an important non-conventional source of energy. Solar energy trapped from the sun can be used in solar cells to produce electricity. Many of these cells are joined into solar panels to generate power for heating and lighting purpose. The technology of utilizing solar energy benefits a lot of tropical countries that are blessed with abundant sunshine. Solar energy is also used in solar heaters, solar cookers, and solar dryers besides being used for community lighting and traffic signals.

2. Wind energy:
The wind is an inexhaustible source of energy. Windmills have been used for grinding grain and lifting water since time immemorial. In modem time windmills, the high-speed winds rotate the windmill which is connected to a generator to produce electricity. Wind farms having clusters of such windmills are located in coastal regions and in mountain passes where strong and steady winds blow. Windfarms are found in Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, USA and Spain are noted for their wind energy production.

3. Nuclear energy:
Nuclear power is obtained from energy stored in the nuclei of atoms of naturally occurring radioactive elements like uranium and thorium. These fuels undergo nuclear fission in nuclear reactors and emit power. The greatest producers of nuclear power are the USA and Europe. In India Rajasthan, mid-Jharkhand has large deposits of Uranium. Thorium is found in large quantities in the Monazite sands of Kerala. The nuclear power stations in India are located, in Kalpakkam in Tamilnadu, Tarapur in Maharastra, Ranapratap Sagar near Kota in Rajasthan, Narora in Uttar Pradesh, and Kaiga in Karnataka.

4. Geothermal energy:
Heat energy obtained from the earth is called geothermal energy. The temperature in the interior of the earth rises steadily as we go deeper. Sometimes this heat energy may surface itself in the form of hot springs. This heat energy can be used to generate power.
Geothermal energy in the form of hot springs has been used for cooking, heating and bathing for several years. The USA has the world’s largest geothermal power plants followed by New Zealand, Iceland, the Philippines and Central America. In India, geothermal plants are located in Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh and Puga Valley in Ladakh. 

5. Tidal energy:
Energy generated from tides is called tidal energy. Tidal energy can be harnessed by buildings dams at narrow openings of the sea. During high ticks, the energy of the tides is used to turn the turbine installed in the dam to produce electricity. Russia, France, and the Gulf of Kachchh in India have huge tidal mill farms.
6. Biogas:
Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas. Biogas is an excellent fuel for cooking and lighting and produces huge amount of organic manure each year.