Extra 20 long-answer questions (5-6 points each) from Chapter: Minerals and Energy Resources of Class 10 CBSE Geography:
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Minerals and Energy Resources – Long Answer Questions (5-6 Points Each)
1. Minerals
1. What are the different modes of occurrence of minerals?
Answer: Minerals occur in the following ways:
In igneous and metamorphic rocks – Found in cracks, crevices, and joints (e.g., gold, copper).
In sedimentary rocks – Formed from accumulation and compression of minerals over time (e.g., limestone, gypsum).
In alluvial deposits – Found in sands of riverbeds and deltas (e.g., gold, tin).
As residual mass – Formed due to weathering of rocks (e.g., bauxite).
In ocean water – Dissolved salts and minerals like sodium chloride.
2. Explain the classification of minerals with examples.
Answer: Minerals are classified as:
Metallic minerals – Contain metals (e.g., iron, copper, aluminium).
Non-metallic minerals – Do not contain metals (e.g., mica, limestone, gypsum).
Energy minerals – Used for power generation (e.g., coal, petroleum, uranium).
3. What are ferrous and non-ferrous minerals? Give examples.
Answer:
Ferrous minerals – Contain iron (e.g., iron ore, manganese, chromite).
Non-ferrous minerals – Do not contain iron (e.g., copper, bauxite, lead, zinc).
Ferrous minerals are essential for steel-making, while non-ferrous minerals are used in electrical, chemical, and manufacturing industries.
4. What is iron ore? What are its different types?
Answer:
Iron ore is a mineral used to produce iron and steel.
Types of iron ore:
1. Magnetite – High iron content, best quality.
2. Hematite – Most widely used in India.
3. Limonite – Low iron content, used in cement and paints.
4. Siderite – Poor-quality iron ore.
5. Why is conservation of minerals necessary? How can it be achieved?
Answer: Conservation is necessary because:
Minerals are exhaustible and take millions of years to form.
Excessive mining causes environmental degradation.
Future generations may face shortages.
Conservation methods:
1. Reducing wastage in mining and industries.
2. Recycling and reusing metals.
3. Using alternatives like synthetic materials.
4. Adopting eco-friendly mining practices.
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2. Energy Resources
6. Differentiate between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer:
Conventional energy: Includes fossil fuels and hydropower. These are limited and polluting (e.g., coal, petroleum, natural gas).
Non-conventional energy: Includes solar, wind, and tidal energy. These are renewable and eco-friendly.
Conventional sources are widely used, but non-conventional sources are the future of sustainable energy.
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal as an energy resource?
Answer:
Advantages:
Abundant and widely available in India.
Cost-effective for power generation.
Provides employment in mining industries.
Disadvantages:
Causes air pollution and global warming.
Mining leads to land degradation.
Non-renewable and will eventually deplete.
8. Why is petroleum an important energy resource?
Answer: Petroleum is vital because:
Used as fuel for transport (petrol, diesel, aviation fuel).
Raw material for industries like plastics, chemicals, and textiles.
Generates employment and revenue for the economy.
Provides lubricants and other essential byproducts.
9. What are the advantages of natural gas?
Answer:
Cleaner fuel compared to coal and petroleum.
Easily transported through pipelines.
Used for cooking, electricity generation, and industries.
Reduces dependency on crude oil imports.
10. What is nuclear energy? Name some nuclear power plants in India.
Answer:
Nuclear energy is generated from radioactive minerals like uranium and thorium.
It produces a large amount of electricity with minimal fuel usage.
Nuclear power plants in India:
1. Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu)
2. Tarapur (Maharashtra)
3. Kaiga (Karnataka)
4. Narora (Uttar Pradesh)
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3. Mining and Conservation
11. What are the harmful effects of mining on the environment?
Answer:
Deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
Soil erosion and land degradation.
Air and water pollution from mining waste.
Health hazards for workers due to toxic gases.
Disturbs ecological balance.
12. How can we conserve energy resources?
Answer:
Using renewable sources like solar and wind energy.
Reducing energy wastage in households and industries.
Promoting energy-efficient appliances.
Encouraging public transport and electric vehicles.
Recycling waste materials to generate energy.
13. What is biogas? How is it useful?
Answer:
Biogas is a renewable fuel produced from organic waste (cow dung, plant material, sewage).
It is used for cooking, lighting, and small-scale electricity generation.
Reduces dependency on wood and fossil fuels.
14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydropower?
Answer:
Advantages:
Renewable and non-polluting.
Provides irrigation and drinking water.
Helps control floods.
Disadvantages:
Displacement of people and submergence of land.
High initial cost of dam construction.
Environmental imbalance due to change in river flow.
15. Explain the future prospects of renewable energy in India.
Answer:
India has vast potential for solar, wind, and biomass energy.
Government initiatives like National Solar Mission.
Increasing investment in clean energy technology.
Reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
16. What is tidal energy? Name one tidal power project in India.
Answer:
Tidal energy is generated from ocean tides.
It is predictable and sustainable.
Example: Gujarat Tidal Power Project.
17. What are the advantages of wind energy?
Answer:
Renewable and environmentally friendly.
No fuel cost.
Low maintenance and operational costs.
Suitable for coastal and hilly regions.
18. Which factors affect the distribution of minerals in India?
Answer:
Geological structure of the region.
Nature of the rock formations.
Climatic conditions.
Human exploration and technology.
19. What are geothermal energy and its uses?
Answer:
Geothermal energy is heat from the Earth's interior.
Used for electricity generation, heating buildings, and agriculture.
20. Why should we shift towards non-conventional energy resources?
Answer:
Fossil fuels are limited and polluting.
Non-conventional sources are sustainable and eco-friendly.
Helps reduce climate change impact.
