Available Answers

1. 1.

   Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options:

   1. What is the main reason minerals need to be used judiciously?
      1. They are associated only with sedimentary rocks.
      2. They are finite and known as exhaustible resources.
      3. They are mostly polluting.
      4. We do not have the technology to extract most of them profitably.
   2. Which type of iron ore is considered the most superior and why?
      1. Hematite, because it has 68 per cent iron content and is red and brown in colour.
      2. Magnetite, because it has 72 per cent iron content and is darker in colour.
      3. Limonite, because it has 40 to 50 per cent iron content and is yellowish in colour.
      4. Siderite, because it has 20 to 30 per cent iron content.
   3. Why is iron ore considered a key mineral for the industrial growth and development of a nation?
      1. It is the most abundant mineral in the world.
      2. It is used in the production of steel, which is essential for making machinery and develop infrastructure.
      3. It is found in every state of India.
      4. It has the highest percentage of pure iron compared to other minerals.
   4. Why is manganese considered an essential input in steel making?
      1. It is silver-grey in colour and very hard.
      2. It increases the strength of steel when mixed with iron.
      3. It is used in manufacturing paints and glass.
      4. It is required for making dry cell batteries.
   5. Which of the following states has the highest percentage of total manganese reserves in India?
      1. Karnataka
      2. Maharashtra
      3. Odisha
      4. Andhra Pradesh
   6. What makes copper a valuable metal?
      1. It is hard and brittle, with high resistance to heat.
      2. It is soft, malleable, ductile, highly conductive and resistant to corrosion.
      3. It is abundant and easy to mine, with low cost of production.
      4. It has low conductivity and forms alloys only with silver.
   7. Why are copper-bearing ores easily identified in rocks near the surface?
      1. They have a characteristic green colour due to secondary copper minerals formed by oxidation.
      2. They are always found in large quantities near the surface.
      3. They are softer and more malleable than other rocks.
      4. They emit a distinctive smell that makes them easy to detect.
   8. Why is bauxite considered a crucial mineral for the manufacturing of aircrafts?
      1. It is highly resistant to heat.
      2. It is a light but durable metal.
      3. It has high electrical conductivity.
      4. It is abundant and cheap to mine.
   9. What are the main uses of bauxite besides its use in the production of aluminium?
      1. Making jewellery and decorative items
      2. Producing refractory materials, chemicals, cements and for use in electrical and optical industries.
      3. Constructing building and bridges
      4. Manufacturing paper and textiles
   10. Why are the rivers of northern India particularly suited for the generation of hydroelectric power?
       1. They are very long.
       2. They have their source in the Himalayas and are fed by snowmelt, making them perennial.
       3. They have large catchment areas.
       4. They flow through densely populated areas.
2. 2.

   Explain the term Mining.

3. 3.

   Explain the term Ore.

4. 4.

   Explain the term 'Conventional energy sources'.

5. 5.

   Explain the term 'Renewable energy'.

6. 6.

   Explain the term 'Fossil fuel'.