Mineral Resources: Extraction, Conservation, and Key Applications

Mineral Resources: Key Concepts and Applications

13. Factors for Commercially Viable Mineral Extraction

Three factors that make mineral extraction commercially viable are:

• The mineral content of the ore must be in sufficient quantities.
• The type of formation or structure determines the relative ease with which mineral ores are extracted.
• The cost of mineral extraction.

14. Measures for Mineral Conservation

Three important measures for the conservation of minerals include:

• Adopting improved technologies to use low-grade ores at lower costs.
• Recycling metals using scrap metals.
• Using substitutes such as aluminum instead of copper, etc.

15. Uneven Distribution of Mineral Resources in India

The statement “Mineral resources in India are unevenly distributed” is supported by the following examples:

• Peninsular rocks contain most reserves of coal, metallic minerals like mica, and many other non-metallic minerals.
• Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula in Gujarat and Assam hold most petroleum deposits.
• The vast alluvial plains of North India are almost devoid of minerals.

These variations exist largely due to differences in the geological structures, processes, and time involved in the formation of minerals.

6. Types of Mineral Formations

Three types of formations in which minerals occur are:

• In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in cracks, crevices, faults, or joints.
• In sedimentary rocks, a number of minerals occur in beds or layers.
• Another mode of formation involves the decomposition of surface rocks and the removal of soluble constituents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing ore. Example: Bauxite ore.

17. Petroleum: India's Next Major Energy Source After Coal

Petroleum is the next major energy source in India after coal. Its importance is highlighted by four key points:

• It provides fuel for heating and lighting.
• It provides lubricants for machinery.
• It serves as raw material for numerous manufacturing industries such as synthetic fibers, plastics, detergents, chemicals, etc.
• It can be easily handled and transported through pipelines.

18. Mica: An Indispensable Mineral

Mica is an indispensable mineral, especially in the electric and electronic industries, due to three key properties:

• It has excellent dielectric strength.
• It has a low power-loss factor.
• It possesses excellent insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.

20. Definition of Minerals and Formation in Igneous & Metamorphic Rocks

• Definition of Minerals: Minerals are homogeneous, naturally occurring substances with a definable internal structure.
• Formation in Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks: In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in cracks, crevices, faults, and joints. Smaller occurrences are called veins, and larger ones are called lodes.