INDEX

Ch-wise Q's & Answers

Ch. 7 Mineral Resources

Ch. 8 Conventional Sources of Energy

Ch. 9 Non-Conventional Sources of Energy

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7 Mineral
Resources

Metallic minerals contain metal elements in their composition and are

extracted for their economic value. These minerals processes unique
physical and chemical properties that value them useful in various
industries, including construction, manufacturing, and technology.
Some important metallic minerals are Iron, Copper and Manganese.
These  nd their application in various industries and factories.

Chapter Notes
Minerals and Iron Ore
Manganese
Copper
Bauxite
 | TOPIC 1 |
MINERALS AND IRON ORE

Minerals
Minerals are natural substances of organic or inorganic matter with definite
chemical and physical properties. They are aggregates of two or more than
two elements. They occur in Earth's Crust and are extracted in the form of
ores.
Two forms of Minerals found today are:
(1) Metallic Minerals found in Igneous rocks and provide a strong base for the
development of metallurgical industry.
(2) Non-Metallic Minerals found in sedimentary rocks.
Example 1. Name any four major mineral found in India.
Ans. Iron, Manganese, Bauxite and Copper.
Minerals are classified as Metallic and Non-metallic.
Metallic Minerals
The sources of these minerals are metals like Iron, Copper, Gold, etc.
Metallic Minerals are further classified as:
Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Minerals
(1) Ferrous Minerals
These are minerals with Iron content, e.g., iron ore.
(2) Non-Ferrous Minerals
These are minerals without Iron content, e.g., Copper, Bauxite, etic.
Non-Metallic Minerals:
These are either organic or inorganic in origin.
(1) Organic Non-Metallic Minerals
Fossil fuels or mineral fuels derived from buried plant and animal life e.g.
Coal and Petroleum.
(2) Inorganic Non-Metallic Minerals
These are inorganic in origin:
e.g., Mica, Limestone, Graphite etc.
Unique characteristics of Minerals
(1) They are not evenly distributed over space.
(2) They have an inverse relationship between quality and quantity.
(3) They are exhaustible over time.

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 Important
 Minerals are the basis for several large scale industries including the
agriculture industry where they are used in the form of fertilizers.
Iron Ore
Iron ore forms the backbone of modern civilisation and foundation of our
basic indusitry.
Varieties of Iron ore
Three varieties of iron ore found in India
Haematite
(1) It is reddish in colour hence, known as the Red Ore.
(2) It contains 60-70 percent pure iron.
(3) It is found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa,
Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Magnetite
(1) It is darkbrown to blackish in colour that is why, it is known as 'Black Ore'.
(2) It contains more than 70 percent of iron.
(3) It is known as magnelite, as it possesses magnetic properties.
(4) It is found in Tamil Nadu & Karnataka.
Limonite
(1) It is yellow or light brown in colour.
(2) It contains 35-50 percent of iron.
(3) It occurs in iron stone group in Raniganj coalfield.
(4) It is found in Garhwal (Uttarakhand) and Mirzapur district (UP) and Kangra
Valley (Himachal Pradesh)

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Mineral Resources 3
 Glossary
Minerals: Organic or inorganic natural substances with definite chemical and
physical properties.
Ore: A natural occuring deposit which contains a mineral or minerals, in
sufficient concentration, to justify the commercial exploitation.

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions

Multiple Choice Questions-I

[ 1 mark each ]
1. ................. is the oldest coalfield of India.
(a)Raniganj (b) Jharia
(c) Bokaro (d) Karanpura ` [ICSE Specimen Paper, 2023]
Ans.(a) Raniganj
Explanation: These coal fields were opened long back in 1774 CE.
Related Theory
 Raniganj Coalfield produces the best quality of non-coking coal in India, with
average ash percentage of less than 20%.

SUBJECTIVE Type Questions

Name the Following

[1 mark each]
2. Name the State that is the leading producer of Manganese. 
[ICSE 2020, 14, 12]
Ans. Madhya Pradesh is the leading producer of Manganese in India.
Related Theory
 Earlier, Odisha was the leading producer of Manganese in India.
Give Geographical Reason:
[1 mark each]
3. Copper is used in electrical appliances.
[ICSE Specimen Paper Sem-2, 2022]
Ans. 
Copper is used in power cables because it is a good conductor of
electricity.
Short Answer Type-I Questions
[SA-I] [2 marks each]
4. Why is Iron ore called the backbone of our modern industry?
[ICSE 2020]

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Ans. Economic growth is judged by the consumption of iron ore in a
country. It promotes industrialization since it is used to make steel
which is used as a raw material by many industries.
Short Answer Type-II Questions
[SA-II] [3 marks each]
Mention two advantages of using natural gas over petroleum. Name
5.
an area where natural gas is found.
[ICSE Specimen Paper, 2023]
Ans. Natural gas is advantageous over petroleum as:
(1) Natural gas is cheaper than petroleum.
(2) Natural gas causes less pollution as compared to petroleum.
The most abundant reserves of natural gas in India are Bombay High
and Gujarat.

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8 Conventional
Sources of Energy

Energy is one of the most important components of the economic

infrastructure of a country. In a developing economy, the energy demand
from sectors like agriculture, industry, residential and economical is very
high. Energy resources are essential for sustenance and development.
Conventional sources of energy include coal, petroleum, natural gas. A
country's development index is dependent upon its consumption of these
energy resources.

Chapter Notes
Coal
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Hydel Power
 | TOPIC 1 |
COAL
Coal is:
(1) a combustible solid stratified rock of organic and mineral matter.
(2) most plentifully available fossil fuel.
(3) used to generate electricity and to power machines.
(4) used to make iron and steel, as well as in other industrial processes.
(5) mainly used as a source of energy.
(6) made of carbon with traces of other elements such as hydrogen, sulphur,
oxygen, and nitrogen.
(7) It consists of carbon water and volatile gases with small amounts of
impurities, that, on burning, produce ash.
Classification of Coal
Coal is classified based on the amount of carbon, moisture and volatile matter.
Coal can be classified as:
Anthracite Coal
(1) It is a good quality coal.
(2) It is the hardest, having 80-95 percent of carbon content.
(3) This coal contains very less volatile matter.
(4) This coal has semi metallic luster with almost no moisture content.
(5) This coal ignites slowly.
(6) It burns without smoke or soot.
(7) Leaves less ash after burning.
Bituminous Coal
(1) This coal is black in colour and is hard.
(2) This coal has carbon content of 50%-80%.
(3) This coal is dense and compact and has very high calorific value.
(4) This coal is used to produce coke and gas.
Lignite
(1) It is a form of brown coal and is friable in nature.
(2) It is a lower grade of coal.
(3) It contains 40-55 percent carbon.
(4) It comprises good deal of moisture and less of combustible matter.
(5) This is the most abundantly found coal.
Peat
(1) Peat is a soft, crumbly, dark brown substance which is formed from

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 decomposition of dead and partially decaying organic matter.
(2) It contains less than 40-55 percent carbon, more volatile matter and much
moisture with impurities.
Distribution
India ranks third in the world after China and the USA, in coal production. In
India, about 97 percent of coal is of Gondwana type and remaining 3% of coal
is of Tertiary type, hence the coal distribution mainly depends on these two
coal fields.
Gondwana Coalfields
Gondwana coalfield is around 250 million years old which accounts for around
98 percent of total coal reserves and 99 percent of total coal production in
India. Gondwana coal mines are located in river valleys of Damodar, Mahanadi,
Godavari, Son and Narmada.
States which are responsible for distribution of Gondwana coal from Gondwana
fields include Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh,
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana.
Important
Karharbari Formation is the oldest coal formation in India.
¬¬

Related Theory
¬¬Damodar valley is the home to the largest coal mines in Jharkhand-
West Bengal coal belt which is located in Jharia, Raniganhj, Bokaro, Giridih,
Karanpura, Chandrapur, Tatapani, Talcher, Himgiri, Korba, Singrauli, etc.

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Conventional Sources of Energy 3

 Glossary
Volatile Matter: Substances which readily burn in the presence of oxygen.
Greenhouse Gas: A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing
infrared radiation eg. Carbondioxide and Chlorofluorocarbons.
Natural Gas: It is a mixture of gases which are rich in hydrocarbons e.g.,
Methane, Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide.

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

[ 1 mark each ]
1. Consider the following statements for solid fuels:
(I) Peat is the first stage in the formation of coal from wood.
(II) The average calorific value of bituminous coal is 1524 MJ/kg.
(III) Anthracite is a very hard coal and has a shining black luster.
(IV) Wood charcoal is obtained by destructive distillation of wood.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) (I), (II) and (III) only
(b) (I), (III) and (IV) only
(c) (II) and (III) only
(d) (I), (II) and (IV) only
Ans.(b) (I), (III) and (IV) only
Explanation: There are two main phases in coal formation, Peatification
and Coalification. Anthracite is the highest grade of coal which is shiny
black, dense, hard and brittle that borders on graphite. Destructive
distillation of wood produces hundreds of compounds including Tar,
Terpenes, Turpentine and Methanol together with a solid residue of
charcoal.
Related Theory
 In coal formation, vegetable matter is oxidized to water and carbon
dioxide and if plant material accumulates underwater, oxygen is not
present and so, only partial decomposition occurs.

SUBJECTIVE Type Questions

Name the Following

[ 1 mark each ]
2.The multi-purpose project based on the river Sutlej. [ICSE 2019]
Ans. T he Bhakra Nangal Dam Bhakra Nangal project
 [Marking Scheme]
The multi purpose project based on the river Sutlej is the Bhakra Nangal
Project.
What Examiners Say
 Some candidates wrote only Bhakra Dam.

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 Caution
Write
 the complete names of multipurpose projects.
Give Geographical Reason:
[ 1 or 2 marks each ]
3. The location of coalfields is an important factor in industrial
development. [HOT ]
Ans. Coal is a bulky commodity and its transportation involves high costs.
Besides it has low specific value and is used to generate thermal power.
Thus, industries which use a lot of coal are located near the coalfields.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [VSA]
 [ 1 mark each]
4. Mention one disadvantage of using natural gas as a source of power.
[ICSE 2020]
Ans. Disadvantages of using natural gas as a source of power are:
(1) It is volatile so transportation is dangerous
(2) It is colourless, tasteless and odourless so it is difficult to detect
leakages
(3) Negligence can lead to leakage and explosion
(4) It can cause greenhouse emissions. [Any one]
Short Answer Type-I Questions
[SA-I] [ 2 marks each]
5. (A) Mention one advantage of the use of natural gas over coal and
petroleum.
(B)Mention one offshore oilfield of India. [HOT ] [ICSE 2018]
Ans.(A) Natural gas creates less pollution (if used as CNG or LPG) as
compared to fossil fuels such as coal or petroleum.
(B) Mumbai High / Aliabet / Bassein/ basin of Godavari, Krishna,
Cauvery. [Any one]
[Marking Scheme]

(A) The advantages of the use of natural gas over coal and petroleum
are:
(1) It is easily available from landfills.
(2) It is relatively cheaper.
(3) It can be efficiently and safely stored.
(4) It is renewable and inexhaustible.
(5) It is comparatively eco friendly and saves fossil fuels.

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 (6) It produces large amount of power, which can be used for domestic,
industrial and other activities. [Any one]
(B)Offshore oilfields of India are:
(1) Mumbai High
(2) Aliabet
(3) Bassein
(4) Gulf of Cambay
(5) Krishna, Godavari and Cauvery basins. [Any one]
What Examiners Say
 (A)M ost of the candidates were able to write one advantage of the
use of natural gas over coal or petroleum.
 (B) Some candidates named Digboi as an off-shore oil field.
Caution
 Understand the difference between off shore and on shore oil fields with
examples and locations.
Short Answer Type-II Questions
[SA-II] [ 3 marks each ]
6. Briefly answer the following:
(A)Name a mineral which is used to generate nuclear power.
(B)Why is petroleum often referred to as “liquid gold”?
(C)State one disadvantage of using coal as a source of power. 
[ICSE 2019]
Ans.(A) Uranium / Thorium / Beryllium/Plutonium /Zirconium [Any one]
(B) Petroleum is versatile mineral. It generates power / used as a fuel
for vehicles and in factories / used as a raw material for products
like plastics, tarpaulin, wax etc. / by-products like kerosene are very
useful / Not even the smallest part of the crude oil goes waste or
remains unused and is therefore, called liquid gold /because of
high economic value.
(C) I t leads to pollution / it is exhaustible / it is non-renewable / heavy
transport cost/ problem of disposal of residue/ health hazard.
 [Marking Scheme]
(A) Minerals used to generate nuclear power are:
(1) Uranium
(2) Plutonium
(3) Beryllium
(4) Thorium

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 (5) Monazite sands.  [Any one]
(B)Petroleum is often referred to as “liquid gold” because:
(1) It is a versatile mineral.
(2) It generates power
(3) It is used as a fuel for vehicles and in industries
(4) It is used as a raw material in the manufacture of plastics, tarpaulin,
wax, etc.
(5) Its byproducts like kerosene are very useful
(6) Not even the smallest part of the crude oil goes waste or remains
unused.
(7) It is also called liquid gold because of its value, high price and its
economic need. [Any one]
(C)The disadvantage of using coal as a source of power are:
(1) It causes pollution
(2) It is non-renewable
(3) It is exhaustible
(4) It causes acid rain as it emits carbon- di-oxide, sulphur-di-oxide,
arsenic, ash, nitrogen oxide on burning
(5) It involves heavy transportation costs. [Any one]
What Examiners Say
 (A) S ome candidates named the mineral used to generate nuclear
power as coal/petroleum/natural gas which was incorrect.
 (B) 
S ome candidates did not understand the question and wrote
about the colour of petrol as yellow, thus relating it to gold.
 (C) M any candidates wrote the calorific value of coal instead of its
disadvantage as a source of power.
Caution
 Understand the reason to consider petroleum as liquid gold.

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9 Non-Conventional
Sources of Energy

Non-convetional sources of energy, also known as renewable energy

sources, are those energy sources which are derived from natural
resources that are constantly replenished and do not deplete over
time. They provide an alternative to conventional sources of energy,
such as fossil fuels, which are ! nite and contribute to environmental
degradation. They are clean and easily available in nature.

Chapter Notes
Introduction Geothermal Energy
Solar Energy Nuclear Power
Wind Energy Biogas
Tidal Energy
 | TOPIC 1 |
INTRODUCTION
Sources of energy which are produced continuously in nature and are
inexhaustible are called non conventional energy or renewable sources of
energy.
Such sources of energy are energy resources of future as many countries have
started producing these sources of energy on a large scale.
E.g., solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, biomass, tidal energy and
wave energy.
Important
 It is noted that from all the non-conventional energy sources, solar energy
is the most reliable for the future use as it is abundantly available in a tropical
country like India.
 These sources are efficient and clean. Over the past few decades, humans
have learnt to harness these sources of energy to produce electricity and
other forms of energy in a viable form.
 These are called alternative sources of energy.
 These sources can get tapped at large scale at one place or in smaller
amounts in several places. They can be tapped anywhere- hills, beaches and
forests. India is ideally suited to utilise the potential of solar energy, hydel
energy and wind energy.

| TOPIC 2 |
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar energy is the most readily available and free source of energy, as it is
derived directly from the Sun. It is received in the form of light and radiation. It
affects the Earth’s weather and sustains life on the planet.
The solar energy that falls on India in one minute is enough to supply the
energy requirement of our country for one day.
This energy can be used by solar thermal route and solar electric routes.
Important
 Solar energy is sometimes called as radiant energy.

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 Generation
Many techniques have been developed in India for harnessing solar energy
which includes:
Solar Cells
Solar cells are also known as Photo voltaic devices. They convert sunlight
into electricity directly. These cells are made from silicon which generates
electricity without polluting the environment.
Solar cell uses no fuel. During energy conversion, no harmful gases are
released. There is no burning and no wastes are produced.
The cells can be installed in inaccessible and remote areas where constructing
a power plant is too expensive.
These cells are used in street lighting, traffic signalling, water pumping,
battery charging systems, etc.
Important
 The arrangement in which many solar cells are connected side by side to
each other is known as solar panel.
Solar Cooker
Solar cooker is a device, which uses solar energy for cooking. It is usually made
from mirrors. In this, plain mirrors are kept in a rectangular box and light gets
reflected from the mirrors, which concentrates solar energy in solar cooker,
generating the required heat to cook food.
Benefits
(1) No attention is required during cooking.
(2) No fuel is required
(3) Negligible maintenance cost.
(4) No pollution.
(5) By using solar cooker, vitamins of the food will not be destroyed.
(6) No problem of overflowing of food
Solar Water Heater
It is a device to heat water using solar energy. The solar water systems in
India are designed to raise the water temperature from 60 °C to 90 °C.
The heater includes conventional flat plate collector with thermo siphon
or forced circulation flow system. The panels are installed facing South to
encourage efficiency.

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 Important
 Solar water heating is the process in which the solar energy is directly used
in heating the water for most of the year.

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Glossary
Photovoltaic Cells: It is a method for generating electric power by using
solor cells to convert energy from the sun.
Wind Farm : It is a group of wind turbines or windmills in the same location
which is used for the production of electricity.

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions

Multiple Choice Questions-I

[ 1 mark each ]
1. Inwhich of the following conditions is bio-gas produced?
(a) Presence of oxygen
(b)Action of aerobic microorganisms
(c) Action of anaerobic microorganisms
(d) Presence of fertilizers
Ans.(c) Action of anaerobic microorganisms
Explanation: Bio-gas is produced through the action of anaerobic
microorganisms during anaerobic fermentation.
Related Theory
 Biogas is a gaseous mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and traces
of other gases which is produced by biological process of anaerobic
fermentation.
SUBJECTIVE Type Questions

Name the Following

[ 1 mark each ]
2. Mention two advantages of using Geothermal energy over coal.
[HOT ]
Ans. Advantages of using Geothermal energy over coal are:
(1)It is eco friendly.
(2)It is free as it taps the heat of the earth’s interior.
(3)It is inexhaustible and renewable.
(4)There is a huge potential for generating geothermal power everywhere
across the world.
(5)It is sustainable and reliable. [Any two]
Give Geographical Reason:
[ 2 marks each ]
3. India’s location is advantageous for the generation of solar power.
[ICSE 2019]

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 Ans. India lies between 8°N and 37°N with the Tropic of Cancer running
through it and so, receives a lot of sunlight with 300 clear days in
a year. This is advantageous for the generation of solar power.
[Marking Scheme]
(1) India’s location is advantageous for the generation of solar power as it
lies between 8°N and 37°N with the Tropic of Cancer running through
its centre
(2) It experiences a tropical climate and thus receives plenty of sunlight
with 300 sunny days in a year.
What Examiners Say
 Most candidates answered this subpart of the question correctly.
 This subpart of the question was attempted well by most candidates.
 Most candidates wrote the correct reason for the question; India’s
location is advantageous for the generation of solar power.
Very Short Answer Type Questions
[VSA] [ 1 mark each ]
4. Why is the use of alternative sources of energy becoming essential in
modern times?
Ans. The use of alternative sources of energy is becoming essential in modern
times because they are:
(1)Free and easily available
(2)Ubiquitous, renewable and inexhaustible
(3)Eco-Friendly and save fossil fuels
(4)Produce large amount of power which can be used for domestic,
industrial and other activities.  [Any one]
Short Answer Type-I Questions
[SA-I] [ 2 marks each]
5. Give two advantages that non conventional energy sources have over
conventional energy sources. [ICSE 2018]
Ans. Advantage – They produce large amount of power, which can
be used for domestic, industrial and other activities./renewable/
eco-friendly/inexhaustible
[Any two] [Marking Scheme]
The advantages of non conventional energy sources over conventional
sources are:

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 (1)They are free and easily available.
(2)They are renewable and inexhaustible.
(3)They are eco-friendly and they save fossil fuels.
(4)They produce large amount of power, which can be used for domestic,
industrial and other activities. [Any two]
What Examiners Say
 Majority of the candidates were able to write two advantages of
non-conventional energy sources over conventional energy sources.
Short Answer Type-II Questions
[SA-II] [ 3 marks each]
6. (A) Mention two advantages of using biogas.
(B)How has the nuclear power contributed in reducing the pressure
on conventional sources of energy?
 [ICSE Specimen Paper Sem-2, 2022]
Ans.(A) Two advantages of using biogas are :
(1) It is a clean fuel.
(2) It is non-polluting.
(3) It is cheap.
(4) It is sustainable.
(5) It emits less greenhouse gases into the air than fossil fuels in the
combustion process.
(6) It reduces dependence on oil. [Any two]
(B)The generation of power electricity through nuclear energy reduces
the amount of energy generated from the fossil fuels (coal and oil).
Less use of fossil fuel lowers the greenhouse gas emissions (CO2
and others), hence, helps in reducing pollution. Another advantage is
that less amount of fuel is required. The loss of nuclear fuel (overall
uranium) is 20% of the cost of energy generated.

Non-Conventional Sources of Energy 7