Minerals and Power Resources

1. Answer the following questions.

(i) Name any three common minerals used by you every day.

Answer: Salt, petroleum and gold are the common minerals that are used by humans on a regular basis.

(ii) What is an ore? Where are the ores of metallic minerals generally located?

Answer: Ores are the rocks which are mined to extract minerals from them. Minerals occur in different types of rocks. Some are found in igneous rocks, some in metamorphic rocks, and others occur in sedimentary rocks. The ores of metallic minerals are found in igneous and metamorphic rock formations that form large plateaus.

(iii) Name two regions rich in natural gas resources.

Answer: The United Kingdom and the Netherlands are the major producers of natural gas. Natural gas is found in petroleum deposits and is released when crude oil is brought to the surface. It is used as a domestic and industrial fuel.

(iv) Which sources of energy would you suggest for (a) rural areas, (b) coastal areas, and (c) Arid regions?

Answer:

(a) In rural areas – coal, solar energy, bio-gas, and firewood can be used as sources of energy.

(b) In coastal areas – wind power, petroleum and tidal power can be used.

(v) Give five ways in which you can save energy at home.

Answer:

Switching off the lights, TV and electric fans, when they are not in use.
Closing the tap properly so that it does not drip
Using a pressure cooker for cooking
Walking or using bicycles for short distance commutes.
Minimizing the use of refrigerators, air conditioners and lifts.

2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) Which one of the following is NOT a characteristic of minerals?

(a) They are created by natural processes.

(b) They have a definite chemical composition.

(d) Their distribution is uneven.

Answer: (c) They are inexhaustible

(ii) Which one of the following is a leading producer of copper in the world?

(a) Bolivia

(b) Ghana

(d) Chile

Answer: (d) Chile

(iii) Which one of the following practices will NOT conserve LPG in your kitchen?

(a) Cooking food in an open pan, kept on a low flame.

(b) Soaking the dal for some time before cooking it.

(d) Keeping the vegetables chopped before lighting the gas for cooking.

Answer: (a) Cooking food in an open pan, kept on a low flame

3. Give reasons.

(i) Environmental aspects must be carefully looked into before building huge dams.

Answer: The construction of a huge dam creates large-scale destruction of natural vegetation and wildlife in those areas, which get submerged. This is not good for the ecosystem. Hence, environmental aspects must be carefully looked into before building huge dams.

(ii) Most industries are concentrated around coal mines.

Answer: Coal is an important source of energy, and hence most industries are located around coal mines.

(iii) Petroleum is referred to as “black gold”.

Answer: Petroleum is a thick black liquid and is a valuable resource for various industries. Hence, it is also known as “black gold”.

(iv) Quarrying can become a major environmental concern.

Answer: Quarrying creates many problems. Fine dust particles spread in the air around a quarrying site. Dust particles from the quarry can cause respiratory problems. Quarrying also destroys natural vegetation and, thus, the home of many wild animals.

Question 4.
Distinguish between the following.
(i) Conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.
(ii) Biogas and natural gas.
(iii) Ferrous and non-ferrous minerals
(iv) Metallic and non-metallic minerals.
Answer:
(i)