Minerals and Energy Resources Class 10 NCERT Solutions 2026 PDF Download

Ans:

• Ferrous Minerals: Contain iron. They account for about three-fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals. Examples: Iron ore, Manganese, Nickel, Cobalt.
• Non-Ferrous Minerals: Do not contain iron. India's reserves of these are not very satisfactory. Examples: Copper, Bauxite, Lead, Zinc, Gold.

Ans: Geologists define a 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.

Ans: In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in the cracks, crevices, faults, or joints.
1. Smaller occurrences are called veins and larger ones are called lodes.
2. They are formed when minerals in liquid/molten/gaseous forms are forced upward through cavities towards the earth's surface. They cool and solidify as they rise.
Examples: Tin, Copper, Zinc, Lead.

Ans: 1. Finite & Non-renewable: Mineral formation takes millions of years. The rate of replenishment is infinitely small compared to the rate of consumption.
2. Rapid Depletion: Continued extraction leads to increasing costs as mineral depth increases and quality decreases.
3. Future Generations: We must use them in a planned and sustainable manner so that future generations can also utilize them.

Ans: Coal in India occurs in two main geological ages:
1. Gondwana Coal (200 million years old): Major metallurgical coal. Located in Damodar Valley (West Bengal-Jharkhand). Important coalfields: Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro. Also found in Godavari, Mahanadi, Son, and Wardha valleys.
2. Tertiary Coal (55 million years old): Found in North-Eastern states: Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.

Ans: 1. Abundance: India is a tropical country with enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy.
2. Renewable: Unlike fossil fuels, it will never run out.
3. Environment Friendly: It causes no pollution.
4. Rural Application: Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas (solar cookers, street lights), reducing dependence on firewood and dung cakes.

Ans: Iron Ore.

Ans: In the tribal areas of North-East India (like Jowai and Cherrapunjee), mining is done by family members in the form of a long narrow tunnel known as 'Rat-Hole' mining. It is illegal and unsafe.

Ans:

• Magnetite: Finest iron ore with very high iron content (up to 70%). Has excellent magnetic qualities.
• Hematite: Most important industrial iron ore. Has slightly lower iron content (50-60%).

Ans: Odisha (e.g., Panchpatmali deposits in Koraput).

Ans: Because of low carbon dioxide emissions during combustion. It is considered the fuel for the present century.

Ans: Mining is dangerous for the health of miners and the environment.
1. Health: Dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners lead to pulmonary diseases (Silicosis).
2. Accidents: Risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation (flooding), and fires in coal mines.
3. Environment: Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil, and river pollution.

Ans:
Conventional: 1. Used for a long time (Coal, Petroleum, Firewood).
2. Non-renewable and exhaustible.
3. Cause pollution.
Non-Conventional: 1. Recently developed (Solar, Wind, Tidal).
2. Renewable and inexhaustible.
3. Eco-friendly and pollution-free.

Ans: Aluminum is obtained from Bauxite ore.
Importance:
1. It combines the strength of metals like iron with extreme lightness.
2. It has good conductivity and great malleability.
3. It is used in manufacturing aeroplanes, utensils, and electrical wires.
4. It acts as a substitute for steel, copper, zinc, and lead in many industries.

Ans: Copper is essential because it is malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is vital for electrical cables, electronics, and chemical industries. A deficiency means India has to rely on imports, increasing costs and dependency on other nations.

Ans: 1. Promotion of Energy Conservation: "Energy saved is energy produced." Using energy-efficient devices (LEDs) and public transport.
2. Shift to Renewables: Increased use of non-conventional sources (Solar, Wind, Biomass) to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions.

Ans: Found in Kerala. They are rich in Thorium, a potential source for nuclear energy.

Ans: Assam (Digboi, Naharkatiya).

Ans: Limestone.

Ans: Biogas is produced from shrubs, farm waste, animal, and human waste. It provides twin benefits: (i) Clean energy for cooking/lighting, (ii) Improved quality of manure (slurry left behind).

Ans: The Khetri mines in Rajasthan are famous for Copper mining.