Introduction:
Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives.
Almost everything we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building or a big ship, all are made from minerals.
The railway lines and the tarmac (paving) of the roads, our implements and machinery too are made from minerals.
Cars, buses, trains, aeroplanes are manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from the earth. Even the food that we eat contains minerals.
In all stages of development, human beings have used minerals for their livelihood, decoration, festivities, religious and ceremonial rites.
Mineral – A homogenous, naturally occurring substance with definable internal structure is called mineral.
Geologists define mineral as a “homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.”
Minerals are found in varied forms in nature, ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest talc.
Rocks are combinations of homogenous substances called minerals. Some rocks, for instance limestone, consist of a single mineral only, but majority of the rock consist of several minerals in varying proportions.
Although, over 2000 minerals have been identified, only a few are abundantly found in most of the rocks.
A particular mineral that will be formed from a certain combination of elements depends upon the physical and chemical conditions under which the material forms.
This, in turn, results in a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density that a particular mineral possesses.
Geologists use these properties to classify the minerals.
Importance of Minerals:
Everything we use is made from minerals.
The country earns foreign exchange from the export of minerals.
Mining and extraction of minerals provide employment to the people.
Minerals like coal and petroleum are also the main source of power.
Life processes cannot occur without minerals.
Although our mineral intake represents only about 0.3 per cent of our total intake of nutrients, they are so potent and so important that without them we would not be able to utilise the other 99.7 per cent of foodstuffs
Study of Minerals by Geographers and Geologists:
Geographers study minerals as part of the earth’s crust for a better understanding of landforms. The distribution of mineral resources and associated economic activities are of interest to geographers. A geologist, however, is interested in the formation of minerals, their age and physical and chemical composition
Do you know?
A bright smile from toothpaste and minerals
Toothpaste cleans your teeth.
Abrasive minerals like silica, limestone, aluminum oxide and various phosphate minerals do the cleaning.
Fluoride which is used to reduce cavities comes from a mineral fluorite.
Most toothpaste is made white with titanium oxide, which comes from minerals called rutile, ilmenite and anatase.
The sparkle in some toothpaste comes from mica.
The toothbrush and tube containing the paste are made of plastics from petroleum.
Classification of Minerals:
On the basis of composition, minerals are classified into two main categories:
Metallic Minerals
Non-metallic minerals
Metallic Minerals – Minerals which contain metals in raw forms are called metallic minerals.
Metallic minerals are further classified into ferrous and non-ferrous minerals.
Ferrous Minerals: Minerals which contain iron are called ferrous minerals. Ex– iron ore, manganese and chromite.
Non-ferrous Minerals: Minerals containing metals other than iron ore are called non – ferrous minerals. Ex– bauxite, tin, copper, gold, etc.
Precious minerals – The minerals which have very high economic value are known as Precious minerals. Ex– Gold, Silver etc.
Energy minerals – The minerals which provide energy or power are known as energy minerals.
Ex– Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas etc.
Ore – A rock from which a particular mineral can be profitably extracted is called ore.
It is important for us to know the formation of ore because:
We will be able to extract the mineral with ease.
We can also determine the cost of extraction.
Mode of occurrence of minerals:
Minerals are usually found in “ores”.
The term ore is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements.
The mineral content of the ore must be in sufficient concentration to make its extraction commercially viable.
The type of formation or structure in which they are found determines the relative ease with which mineral ores may be mined. This also determines the cost of extraction.
It is, therefore, important for us to understand the main types of formations in which minerals occur:
Minerals in Igneous and Metamorphic rock:
In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints.
The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger are called lodes.
In most cases, they are formed when minerals in liquid/ molten and gaseous forms are forced upward through cavities towards the earth’s surface.
They cool and solidify as they rise.
Major metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are obtained from veins and lodes.
Minerals in sedimentary rocks:
In sedimentary rocks a number of minerals occur in beds or layers.
They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata.
Coal and some forms of iron ore have been concentrated as a result of long periods under great heat and pressure.
Another group of sedimentary minerals include gypsum, potash salt and sodium salt.
These are formed as a result of evaporation especially in arid regions.
Minerals in decomposed rocks:
This involves the decomposition of surface rocks and the removal of soluble constituents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing ores. Bauxite is formed this way.
Minerals in alluvial deposits:
Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills.
These deposits are called ‘placer deposits’ and generally contain minerals, which are not corroded by water.
Gold, silver, tin and platinum are most important among such minerals.
Minerals in ocean water:
The ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, but most of these are too widely diffused to be of economic significance.
However, common salt, magnesium and bromine are largely derived from ocean waters.
The ocean beds, too, are rich in manganese nodules.
Interesting facts:
Rat-Hole Mining
Do you know that most of the minerals in India are nationalised and their extraction is possible only after obtaining due permission from the government?
But in most of the tribal areas of the north-east India, minerals are owned by individuals or communities.
In Meghalaya, there are large deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone and dolomite etc.
Coal mining in Jowai and Cherapunjee is done by family member in the form of a long narrow tunnel, known as ‘Rat hole’ mining.
The National Green Tribunal has declared such activities illegal and recommended that these should be stopped forthwith.
Minerals are very unevenly distributed:
India has a variety of mineral resources. The differences in the distribution have occurred due to the following reasons:
- Differences in geological structure.
- Time involved in the formation of minerals.
- Processes
Minerals in Deccan:
Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many other non-metallic minerals.
Minerals in western and eastern region of India:
Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula, in Gujarat and Assam have most of the petroleum deposits.
Minerals in Rajasthan:
Rajasthan with the rock systems of the peninsula has reserves of many non-ferrous minerals.
Minerals in North India:
The vast alluvial plains of north India are almost devoid of economic minerals.
Points that make a mineral economically viable:
Mineral Deposit turns into a “Mine” when:
There is sufficient concentration of mineral in the ore.
The ease of extraction.
Closeness to the market.
Ferrous minerals:
Ferrous minerals account for about three fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals.
They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.
India exports substantial quantities of ferrous minerals after meeting her internal demands.
Iron Ore:
Iron ore is the basic mineral, considered to be the backbone of industrial development.
India is rich in good quality iron ores.
Production of iron ore showing state-wise share in per cent, 2016–17
Types of Iron Ore:
Magnetite:
This is the best quality of iron ore and contains about 70% iron.
It has excellent magnetic qualities, especially valuable in the electrical industry.
Hematite:
It is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used.
It has slightly lower iron content than magnetite. (50- 60 per cent).
Do you know?
Kudre in Kannada means horse.
The highest peak in the western ghats of Karnataka resembles the face of a horse.
The Bailadila hills look like the hump of an ox, and hence its name.
The major iron ore belts in India are:
Odisha – Jharkhand belt:
In Odisha high grade hematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts.
In the adjoining Singbhum district of Jharkhand haematite iron ore is mined in Gua and Noamundi.
Durg–Bastar – Chandrapur Belt:
This belt lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Very high grade hematites are found in the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
The range of hills comprises of 14 deposits of super high grade hematite iron ore.
It has the best physical properties needed for steel making.
Iron ore from these mines is exported to Japan and South Korea via Vishakhapatnam port.
Ballari-Chitradurga-ChikkamagaluruTumakuru belt in Karnataka:
It has large reserves of iron ore.
The Kudremukh mines located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka are a 100 per cent export unit.
Kudremukh deposits are known to be one of the largest in the world.
The ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangaluru.
Maharashtra-Goa belt:
The belt includes the state of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.
The ores are not of very high quality, yet they are efficiently exploited.
Iron ore is exported through Marmagao port.
Manganese:
Production of Manganese showing state-wise share in per cent, 2016–17
Uses:
It is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloy.
It is also used in manufacturing bleaching powder, insecticides and paints.
It increases the strength of steel.
It is also used for making glass and chemical.
Nearly 10 kg of manganese is required to manufacture one tonne of steel.
Importance:
India is one of the leading producer of Manganese.
Manganese of India is of high quality and is in great demand.
Distribution:
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
Largest producer:
Odisha has one third of the country’s total production of manganese in 2000-2001.
Non–Ferrous minerals:
India’s reserves and production of non- ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.
However, these minerals, which include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold play a vital role in a number of metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries.
Copper:
Production of copper showing state-wise share in per cent, 2009–10
Properties:
The physical properties of copper make it valuable to industry.
Being malleable, ductile and a good conductor.
It is mainly used in electrical cables, electronics and chemical industry.
India is critically deficient in the reserve and production of Copper.
Uses:
It is useful in cooking utensils, products and refrigerators.
It is used in ranging from rain gauges to electronic system for rockets.
Large amount of Copper wires are used in various kinds of electrical equipments.
Distribution:
Madhya Pradesh: 52% (Balaghat mines)
Jharkhand: Singhbhum, Hazaribagh and Jhabua
Rajasthan: Along the Aravali range and Khetri-Singhana belt in Jhunjhunu
Bauxite:
Bauxite is the main ore of aluminium.
Bauxite deposits are formed by the decomposition of rocks rich in aluminium silicates.
A clay like substance called Alumina and later Aluminium is obtained from Bauxite.
Production of Bauxite showing state-wise share in per cent, 2016–17
Properties:
It has strength
Lightness
Good conductivity
Malleability, therefore it is very important
Uses:
It is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
It is used to make cans for various beverages.
It can be pressed into a thin foil.
Because it is light and strong, it is used in space craft.
The bodies and parts of some automobiles are made from aluminium alloy.
Distribution:
Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni.
Odisha has 34.97% of countries total production in 2009 – 10.
Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput district are the most important bauxite deposits in the state.
Odisha was the largest bauxite producing state in India in 2016-17.
Interesting facts:
After the discovery of aluminium Emperor Napoleon III wore buttons and hooks on his clothes made of aluminium and served food to his more illustrious guests in aluminium utensils and the less honourable ones were served in gold and silver utensils.
Thirty years after this incident aluminium bowls were most common with the beggars in Paris.
Non – Metallic-minerals – Minerals which do not contain metals are called non – metallic minerals. Ex – Limestone, mica, coal, petroleum, etc.
Mica:
It is a non metallic mineral.
India is the largest producer of mica and it produces more than 60% world’s mica.
Main Properties and Uses of Mica:
It is made up of a series of plates or leaves.
It can be converted into thin sheets
It can be clear, black, green, red yellow or brown.
It has excellent di-electric strength, low powerless factor, insulating properties and high resistance.
It is indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic Industries.
Distribution:
Northern edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau, Koderma Gaya – Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand.
Rajasthan, the major mica producing area is around Ajmer
Nellore mica belt of Andhra Pradesh
Rock Minerals:
Lime stone:
Production of Limestone showing state-wise share in per cent, 2016–17
Use and Properties:
It is associated with rock mineral found in association with calcium or Calcium carbonate and magnesium, or mixture of these two, magnesium carbonate in the sedimentary rocks of most geological formations.
It is found in sedimentary rocks.
It is used for variety of purposes.
It is a basic input in cement industry.
It is also used in chemical, iron and steel industry.
Distribution:
Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat
Mining-A killer industry:
Mining can be very hazardous:
The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
Coal mines can catch fire, can get flooded with water & even a roof can collapse.
Due to dumping of waste & sherry from the mining, the water sources can get polluted & degraded.
Prevention:
Stricter safety regulations.
Implementations of environmental laws are essential to prevent mining from becoming a Killer Industry
Conservation of minerals:
Minerals are considered backbone of an economy. Most of the minerals are non renewable.
So, there is urgent need to conserve them because:
The total volume of workable minerals is a very small percentage of the earth’s crust.
We are consuming minerals very rapidly whereas it takes millions of years for their replenishment.
Mineral resources are finite & non renewable.
Continued extraction of ores leads to higher cost as the quality decreases as we move to greater depths.
Measures to conserve the minerals:
Minerals should be used in a planned and judicious way, a concerted effort
Wastage of minerals should be minimised.
Modem technology should be used for the exploitation of minerals.
Export of minerals should be minimised
We should think about the use of substitutes in order to save minerals.
We should encourage recycling of metals.
Energy resources – The resources which are used for generating energy are known as energy resources. Ex. – Coal Petroleum, etc.
Energy is required for all activities.
It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to propel vehicles and to drive machinery in industries.
Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium and from electricity.
Energy resources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional sources:
Conventional Sources – Those power resources which have been in common use for a long time is called Conventional Sources.
Ex – Firewood and fossil fuels are the two main conventional energy sources.
Conventional power resources are those which are exhaustible.
Once they have been used up, they cannot be replaced e.g. coal, petroleum etc.
They are very costly and cause pollution. These are going to last just for 100-200 years.
These are non-renewable sources of energy e.g. coal, petroleum, uranium etc.
Non– Conventional resource – The energy sources which are continuously replenished by natural processes is called Non-conventional Sources of Energy.
Ex – solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, biogas etc.
There are resources of energy which can be renewed in a short period.
They are known as renewable resources, except for nuclear power.
They are free of cost. They do not cause any pollution.
They are going to last forever.
E.g. wind, water, solar energy, geothermal energy, tidal, biogas and atomic energy.
Conventional sources of energy:
Coal – A hard rock which can be burned as a solid fossil fuel is called coal.
In India, coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel.
Uses:
Coal provides a substantial part of the nation’s energy needs.
It is used for power generation, to supply energy to industry as well as for domestic needs.
India is highly dependent on coal for meeting its commercial energy requirements.
Raw material in industries
Domestic needs
Formation:
Coal is formed due to compression of plant material over millions of years.
Coal is formed in a variety of forms depending on:
(i) The degrees of compression (ii) The depth (iii) Time of burial.
Varieties of Coal and its availability:
Anthracite Coal:
This is the best quality hard coal having the highest calorific value.
It is found only in Jammu Kashmir and that too in small quantity.
Bituminous coal:
Most popular coal specially used commercially for smelting iron in blast furnace.
Cool that has been buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures is bituminous coal.
Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal which has a special value for smelting in blast furnaces.
Lignite:
Lignite is a lower grade brown coal which is soft with high moisture content and contain about 60% carbon.
Ash residue is less.
It is found in Rajasthan, Naveli of Tamil Nadu, Hakhimpur of Assam and Karewa of Jammu & Kashmir.
Peat:
This is the first state of transformation of wood into coal.
It burns like wood, gives less heat, emits more smoke and leaves a log of ash after burning.
Formed due to decay of plants in the swamps.
It has low carbon, high moisture & low heating capacity.
Classification of Coal field in India:
In India coal occurs in the rock series of two geological ages.
- Gondwana age
- Tertiary age
Gondwana coal field:
Gondwana coal field is over 200 million years in age.
Gondwana coal metallurgical coal is located in Damodar valley (West Bengal, Jharkhand).
Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro, Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha Valleys.
Tertiary coal field:
The Tertiary rock system bears coal of younger age which is only about 55 million years old and is mainly confined to the extra peninsula.
Important area of tertiary coal include parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland
Do you know?
Coal is a bulky material, which loses weight on use as it is reduced to ash. Heavy industries & thermal power stations are located on or near the coal fields.
Petroleum – A naturally occurring liquid found beneath the earth’s surface that can be refined into fuel is called Petroleum
The word petroleum has been derived from two Latin words, Petra (meaning rock) and oleum (meaning oil).
Petroleum or mineral oil is the next major energy source in India after coal.
It provides fuel for heat and lighting, lubricants for machinery and raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries.
Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry” for synthetic textile, fertiliser and numerous chemical industries.
Thus petroleum is oil obtained from rocks, particularly sedimentary rocks of the earth.
Therefore, it’s also called mineral oil.
Petroleum is an inflammable liquid that is composed of hydrocarbon.
Uses of petroleum:
It is the major source of power for vehicles.
It provides the most important lubricating agents and is used as an important raw material.
Petroleum refineries act as a ‘nodal industry ‘for many industries like textile, fertilizer and numerous chemical industries.
Fuel for heat and light.
Formation:
It is found in the anticlines & fault traps in the rock formations of tertiary age.
In regions of folding, anticlines or domes, oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold.
The oil bearing layer is a porous limestone or sandstone layer through which oil may flow.
The non-porous layers prevent oil from rising or sinking.
Also found in the fault traps between porous and non porous rocks.
Distribution:
63% of India’s petroleum production is from Mumbai high.
18% from Gujarat, Ankeleshwar is the most important field of Gujarat.
16% from Assam-Digboi, Naharkatiya & Moran-hugrijan are the important oil fields.
Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India.
Natural gas – A mixture of gases which are rich in hydrocarbons is called natural gas.
It is an important clean energy resource.
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.
Formation/occurrence:
Found in association with or without petroleum.
Gas being lighter occurs above petroleum.
Uses:
Source of energy
Industrial raw material in petro-chemical industry.
Distribution:
Krishna-Godavari basin
Reserves on the west coast at Mumbai High & Gulf of Cambay.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Advantages of Natural gas – Fuel of the present century:
It can be used both as source of energy and also as a industrial raw material in petro-chemical industry.
Natural gas is found in association with or without petroleum.
It takes less time to built a power plant based on natural gas.
It is easy to transport gas through gas pipes line.
It is considered an environment friendly fuel because of low carbon dioxide emission.
It is the fuel for the present century.
Gas Pipelines:
The 1700 km long Hazira-VijaipurJagdishpur cross country gas pipeline links Mumbai High and Bassien with the fertilizer, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India.
The power and fertilizer industries are the main users of natural gas.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG ) is being used in vehicles in place of liquid fuel.
This artery has provided an impetus to India‘s gas production.
Electricity – A form of energy that can be carried by wires and is used for heating and lighting, and to provide power for machines is called Electricity
Electricity has such a wide range of applications in today’s world that, its percapita consumption is considered as an index of development.
Electricity is generated mainly in two ways:
By running water which drives hydro turbines to generate hydroelectricity.
By burning of other fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas to drive turbines to produce thermal power.
Hydro power – A form of renewable energy that uses the power of moving water to generate electricity is called hydro power.
It is generated by fast flowing water.
It is a renewable resource of energy.
Rain water 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 hydro electricity.
India has a number of multipurpose projects like the Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Corporation, the Kopili Hydel Power Project etc. producing hydro electricity.
These do not cause any pollution.
These should be near the sources of energy.
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.
Thermal Power – A power station in which heat energy is converted to electricity is called thermal power.
It is generated by coal, petroleum and natural gas
These are exhaustible resources of energy.
These cause pollution.
These can be set at any place.
Non-Conventional Energy Sources:
These are non exhaustible.
They are renewable sources of energy.
They do not cause environmental pollution and are freely available.
The growing consumption of energy has resulted in the country becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages have raised uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future, which in turn has serious repercussions on the growth of the national economy.
Moreover, increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental problems.
Hence, there is a pressing need to use renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind, tide, biomass and energy from waste material.
These are called nonconventional energy sources.
India is blessed with an abundance of sunlight, water, wind and biomass.
It has the largest programmes for the development of these renewable energy resources.
Nuclear or Atomic Energy – Electric or motive power generated by a nuclear reactor is called nuclear or Atomic power energy.
It is obtained by the altering the structure of atoms Energy is released in the form of heat and this is used to generate electric power.
Uranium and Thorium which are available in Jharkhand and the Aravali ranges of Rajasthan are used for nuclear power.
The monazite sand of Kerala is also rich in Thorium.
It has vast potential for future development.
It is very economical
The greatest producers of nuclear power are USA and Europe.
The nuclear power stations in India are located in Kalpakkam in Tamilnadu, Tarapur in Maharashtra, Ranapratap Sagar near Kota in Rajasthan, Narora in Uttar Pradesh and Kaiga in Karnataka.
Solar Energy – Energy that uses the power of the sun to produce electricity is called solar energy.
Solar energy is fast, becoming popular in rural & remote areas.
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.
Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar energy is also used in solar heaters, solar cookers, solar dryers besides being used for community lighting and traffic signals.
The technology of utilising solar energy benefits a lot of tropical countries that are blessed with abundant sun shine.
India has enormous scope of tapping solar energy as it is a tropical country.
It is expected that solar energy plant will be able to minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cake, which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in agriculture.
The largest solar plant of India is located at Madhopur, near Bhuj, to sterlise milk cans.
Wind Power – The process by which wind is used to generate electricity is called wind energy.
Wind is an inexhaustible source of energy.
Wind mills have been used for grinding grain and lifting water since times immemorial.
In modern time wind mills, the high speed winds rotate the wind mill which is connected to a generator to produce electricity.
Wind farms having clusters of such wind mills are located in coastal regions and in mountain passes where strong and steady winds blow.
India now ranks as a ‘Wind super power’ in the world.
The cost input are only at the initial stage and the power generation starts immediately after commissioning.
Once the generation starts, cost free power is available for about 20 years.
The largest wind farms cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoil to Madurai.
Apart from these Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka Gujarat, Kerala Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have important wind farms.
Windfarms are found in Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, USA and Spain are noted for their wind energy production.
Biogas – A mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the bacterial decomposition of organic wastes and used as a fuel is called biogas.
Shrubs, farms waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas.
Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas.
The organic waste is decomposed by bacteria in biogas digesters to emit biogas which is essentially a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.
Decomposition of organic matter yields gas, which has higher thermal efficiency in comparison to kerosene dung cake and charcoal.
Biogas plant are setup at municipal, cooperative and individual level.
The plants using cattle dung are known as ‘Gobar gas plant’.
These provide twin benefits to the farmers in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
It burns without smoke it is cheapest gaseous fuel.
Biogas is an excellent fuel for cooking and lighting and produces huge amount of organic manure each year.
Tidal Energy – The form of hydropower that converts the energy obtained from tides into useful forms of power is called tidal energy.
Energy generated from tides is called tidal energy.
Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity.
Flood gate dams are built across the inlets.
During high tide water flows into the inlet and gets trapped when the gate is closed.
After the tides fall our side the flood gate, the water retained by the food gate flows back to the sea via a pipe that carries it through a power generating turbine.
In India the Gulf of Khambhat, the Gulf of Kuchchh in Gujarat and Gangetic delta in sunderban region of West Bengal provide ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy.
In India, the Gulf of Kuchchh, provides ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy.
Geo Thermal Energy – The process by which energy produce using the internal heat of the Earth’s crust is called 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.
Two experimental projects to generate geo thermal energy are:
Parvati valley near Manikarn in Himachal Pradesh.
Puga valley in Ladakh
Conservation of Energy Resources:
Energy is the basic requirement for economic development.
Consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the country.
Every sector of economy like agriculture, industry, transport, domestic needs inputs of energy.
Energy consumption is steadily rising all over the country.
We need to adopt a sustainable path of energy development which will include – Twin planks of sustainable development.
We have to take a cautious approach for judicious use of energy. e.g.
Use public transport system instead of individual vehicles
Switch off electricity when not in use.
Use power saving devices.
Using non-conventional sources of energy.
After all, “Energy saved is energy produced”.
