1 Mark Questions
Question 1. What is a mineral?
Answer : Mineral is a homogeneous naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.
Question 2. Why are there a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density found in minerals?
Answer : The ranges found in minerals are due to physical and chemical conditions.
Question 3. How do minerals occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks?
Answer : In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in racks, crevices, faults and joints.
Question 4. How do minerals occur in sedimentary rocks?
Answer : In sedimentary rocks, minerals occur in beds or layers. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata.
Question 5. Name the minerals formed in beds and layers.
Answer : Coal, and some forms of iron ore.
Question 6. How does mining affect the health of miners?
Answer : The dust and the noxious fumes inhaled by the miners makes them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
Question 7. How did the Bailadila iron-ore field get its name?
Answer : The Bailadila hills look like the hump of an ox, hence Bailadila iron-ore field get its name.
Question 8. How is iron-ore transported from Kudremukh mines to a port near Mangaluru?
Answer : Iron-ore is transported as slurry through pipelines.
Question 9. Why is copper mainly used in electrical cables and electronic industries?
Answer : It is used in electrical cables as it is malleable, ductile and a good conductor of heat and electricity.
Question 10. Why aluminium metal has great importance?
Answer : It has great importance because it combines the strength of metals such as iron with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great malleability.
Question 11. How are ‘Gobar Gas Plants’ beneficial to the farmers?
Answer : ‘Gobar Gas Plants’ are beneficial to the farmers in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
Question 12. Which rock consists of single mineral only?
Answer : Limestone.
Question 13. What is hematite?
Answer : Hematite ore is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used.
Question 14. Why should the use of cattle cake as fuel be discouraged?
Answer : The use of cattle cake as fuel should be discouraged because:
(i) It creates pollution.
(ii) It consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture. (Any one)
Question 15. What are placer deposits?
Answer : Certain mineral deposits that occur in sands of valley floors and the base of the hills as alluvial deposits are called placer deposits.
Question 16. Which state of India is the largest producer of Bauxite?
Answer : Odisha is the largest producer of Bauxite in India.
Question 17. Name the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India.
Answer : Coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India.
Question 18. Which is the highest petroleum-producing area in India?
Answer : Mumbai High is the highest petroleumproducing area in India.
Question 19. Name the gulf that provides ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy in India.
Answer : Gulf of Khambhat and Gulf of Kuchchh in Gujarat provide ideal conditions for utilising tidal energy in India. (Any one)
Question 20. Which is the oldest oil producing state of India?
Answer : Assam.
Question 21. How power resources are classified?
Answer : Power resources may be broadly categorised into conventional and non-conventional resources.
Question 22. What are conventional sources of energy?
Answer : Conventional sources of energy generally nonrenewable sources of energy which have been in common use for a long time. Example: firewood, coal, natural gas, etc.
Question 23. What is biogas energy?
Answer : Bio gas is produced from shrubs, farm waste, animal and human wastes.
Question 24. Name any one nuclear power station found in India.
Answer : Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.
Question 25. At which place in India, experimental project for geothermal energy has been Set-up?
Answer : Manikaran.
3 Marks Questions
Question 26. How is mining activity hazardous? Explain.
OR
How is the mining activity injurious to the health of the miners and environment? Explain.
OR
“Mining affects health and environment both.” Comment.
Answer : The mining activity is injurious to the health of the miners and environment as:
(i) The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
(ii) The risk of collapsing mine roofs.
(iii) Inundation on coalmines are a constant threat to miners.
(iv) The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.
(v) Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil and increase in stream and river pollution.
Question 27. Why is mica considered the most important mineral in electric and electronic industries? Give three reasons.
OR
How is mica one of the most indispensable minerals? Explain any three points.
Answer : Mica is:
(i) Excellent di-electric in strength and has low power loss factor.
(ii) It has insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.
(iii) Most indispensable mineral used in electric and electronic industries.
Question 28. Which are the two main minerals used to obtain nuclear energy? Name any two states where these minerals are found.
Answer : Nuclear or atomic energy is obtained by altering the structure of an atom; When such an alteration is made, much energy is released in the form of heat and this is used to generate electric power.
(i) Uranium and Thorium are used for generating atomic or nuclear power.
(ii) They are available in Jharkhand and Rajasthan.
Question 29. “How is geo-thermal energy produced? Explain.
Answer : The earth grows progressively hotter with increasing depth. Where the geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures are found at shallow depths. Groundwater in such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and becomes hot.
It is so hot that when it rises to the earth’s surface, it turns into steam. This steam is used to drive turbines to generate electricity.
Question 30. Name the non-metallic mineral which can split easily into thin sheets. Mention its uses.
Answer : Mica is the non-metallic mineral which can be split easily into thin sheets. Mica is used in:
(i) Electric and electronic industries: Mica is used in these industries due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.
(ii) Plastic industry uses mica as an extender and filler.
Question 31. Why is conservation of minerals important? How can we conserve minerals?
Answer : Conservation of minerals is important for the following reasons:
(i) Minerals are exhaustible.
(ii) They are limited.
(iii) Minerals have manifold uses.
(iv) Growth of industrialisation has accelerated the extraction of minerals. (Any two)
We can conserve minerals by making an efficient use of them and using recyclable sources of energy wherever possible.
Question 32. Why is energy required for all activities? How can energy be generated?
Answer : (i) Energy is a basic requirement for economic development.
(ii) Every sector ofthe national economy needs input of energy.
(iii) Consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the country.
(iv) Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortage have raised uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future. (Any two)
Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium and from electricity.
Question 33. What are the two main ways of generating electricity? How are they different from each other? Explain.
Answer : 
Question 34. “Natural gas is considered an environment friendly fuel.” Explain the statement in two points.
Answer : Natural gas is used as a source of energy as well as an industrial raw material.
(i) It can be transported easily through pipelines.
(ii) Pipelines have helped in setting up fertilizer plants and power plants on its way.
(iii) Natural gas is a clean source of energy. (iv) It is an environment friendly fuel because of the low carbon emission.
Question 35. Name the mineral ore from which aluminium is extracted. Why is it gaining importance? Give its distribution in India.
Answer : (i) Bauxite.
(ii) Aluminium is gaining importance because of its extreme lightness, good conductivity and great malleability. It combines the strength of metals such as Iron.
(iii) It is mainly found in Amarkantak Plateau, Maikal Hills and the plateau region of Bilaspur-Katni. Koraput district in Odisha has large deposits. Odisha is the largest bauxite producing state. Others are Gujarat, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Question 36. Explain any three different forms in which minerals generally occur.
Answer : (i) Minerals occur in the form of veins and lodes (In igneous and metamorphic rocks).
(ii) In sedimentary rocks, a number of minerals occur in beds and layers.
(iii) As residual mass of weathered material.
(iv) As alluvial deposits in ocean waters.
Question 37. Describe any three important uses of coal as a source of energy.
Answer : Importance of coal as a source of energy in India are:
(i) Coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India.
(ii) It provides a substantial part of the nation’s energy needs.
(iii) It is used for power generation.
(iv) It supplies energy to industry as well as for domestic needs.
Question 38. Why is it essential to use renewable sources of energy?
Answer : (i) Non-renewable sources are going to exhaust such as coal, petrol, natural gas etc. They can cause environmental pollution therefore, we have to use’ renewable resources.
(ii) India has abundance of solar energy, wind, water and biomass.
(iii) Rising prices of oil and gas and their shortage have raised uncertainties about energy resources in the future.
Question 39. Describe any three non-conventional sources of energy.
Answer : Non-conventional sources of energy are:
(i) Solar Energy : India is a tropical country. It has enormous possibilities of trapping solar energy. Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Solar energy is fastly becoming popular in rural and remote areas.
(ii) Wind Energy : India now ranks as a ‘wind super power’ in the world. The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagercoil to Madurai. Apart from these, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep have important wind farms. Nagercoil and Jaisalmer are well-known for effective use of wind energy in the country.
(iii) Biogas : Shrubs, farm waste, animal and human waste are used to produce biogas for domestic consumption in rural areas. Biogas plants using cattle dung are known as ‘Gobar Gas Plants’ in rural India. These provide twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and improved quality of manure. 40. Potential sources
Question 40. Which are the potential sources of biogas? State any four benefits of biogas.
Answer : Potential sources of biogas are: Shrubs, farm wastes, animal waste, human waste, etc. Four benefits of biogas are:
(i) Its calorific value is high.
(ii) It burns without smoke, causing no pollution.
(iii) It is the cheapest gaseous fuel.
(iv) Biogas plants provide twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.
Question 41. Explain three factors that make mineral extractions commercially viable.
Answer : (i) The minerals content of the ore must be in sufficient concentration.
(ii) The type of formation or structure in which they are found determines the relative cases with which mineral ores may be mined.
(iii) The mineral should be close to the market so that the transportation cost is low.
Question 42. What are the uses of copper? Name the two leading copper producing states of India.
Answer : Uses of copper:
(i) In manufacturing electrical cables.
(ii) In electronic industries.
(iii) In chemical industries. The two leading copper producing states of India are Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Question 43. What are ‘placer deposits’? Give examples of minerals found in such deposits.
Answer : (i) Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and base of hills. These deposits are called ‘placer deposits’.
(ii) They generally contain minerals which are not corroded by water.
(iii) Gold, silver,tin and platinum are examples of some important minerals found in ‘placer deposits’.
5 Marks Questions
Question 44. Explain the importance of conservation of minerals. Highlight any three measures to conserve them. [Foreign 2016]
OR
Why is conservation of mineral resources essential? Explain any three methods to conserve them.
Answer : Reasons for Conservation:
(i) The strong dependence of industry and agriculture upon minerals.
(ii) The process of mineral formation is slow.
(iii) They are non-renewable. (Any two)
Methods to conserve:
(i) Minerals should be used in a planned and sustainable manner.
(ii) Improved technology needs to be constantly evolved to allow use of low grade ore at low cost.
(iii) Recycling of metals using scrap metals.
(iv) Wastage in the mining and processing should be minimised.
Question 45. Highlight the importance of petroleum. Explain the occurrence of petroleum in India.
Answer : Importance of Petroleum:
(i) Petroleum is the major energy source in India.
(ii) Provides fuel for heat and lighting.
(iii) Provides lubricant for machinery.
(iv) Provides raw material for a number of manufacturing industries.
(v) Petroleum refineries act as nodal industry for synthetic textile, fertilizer and chemical industries. (Any two)
Its occurrence:
(i) Most of the petroleum occurrences in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps.
(ii) In regions of folding, anticline or domes, it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold.
(iii) Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks.
Question 46. “Which minerals are used to obtain nuclear energy? Name all the six nuclear power stations of India.
Answer : The minerals which are used to obtain this energy are:
(i) Uranium and (ii) Thorium.
The six nuclear power stations of India are
(i) Narora nuclear power station
(ii) Kakrapara nuclear power station.
(iii) Tarapur nuclear power station.
(iv) Kaiga nuclear power station.
(v) Kalpakkam nuclear power station.
(vi) Rawat Bhata nuclear power station. :
Question 47. “Conservation of minerals is the need of the hour”. Support the statement with five facts.
Answer : Conservation of minerals is the need of the hour:
(i) Minerals are considered to be the backbone of the economy.
(ii) Industry and agriculture depend on mineral deposits.
(iii) The substances manufactured from them also depend on mineral deposits.
(iv) Total volume of workable mineral deposits is very less-only 1% of the earth’s crust.
(v) Mineral resources are being consumed rapidly, and minerals require millions of years to be created and concentrated.
(vi) The geological processes of mineral formation are so slow that the rates of replenishment are infinitely small in comparison to the present rates of consumption.
(vii) Minerals resources are finite and nonrenewable.
(viii) The rich mineral deposits of our country are extremely valuable but short-lived possessions. (Any five) 48. Twin planks/measures
Question 48. There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development. Give two broad measures for it. As concerned citizens, how can you help to conserve energy?
Answer : Twin planks/measures:
(i) Promotion of energy conservation.
(ii) Increased use of renewable energy sources.
As concerned citizens we can do our bit by:
(i) Using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles.
(ii) Switching off electricity when not in use.
(iii) Using power-saving devices.
(iv) Using non-conventional sources of energy. (Any two)
Question 49. “There is a pressing need to use renewable energy resources.” Justify the statement with suitable arguments.
Answer : Need to use renewable energy resources are:
(i) The growing consumption of energy has resulted in the country becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
(ii) Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages have raised uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future.
(iii) Has serious repercussions on the growth of the national economy.
(iv) Increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental problems.
(v) Hence, there is a pressing need to use renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind, tidal, biomass and energy from waste material. (Any three)
Question 50. Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India? Assess the importance of its different forms.
Answer : Abundantly available fossil fuel in India is coal. Importance of its different forms are:
(i) Peat has low carbon and high moisture content and low heating capacity
(ii) Lignite is a low grade brown coal which is soft with high moisture content. It is used for generating electricity.
(iii) Bituminous is the most popular coal of commercial use. It has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.
(iv) Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal.
Pandey A.K.. Chapterwise 10 Years Solved Papers Social Science Class 10 CBSE (Page 181). . Kindle Edition.
Question 51. Why is energy needed? How can we conserve energy resources? Explain.
Answer : 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. To conserve energy resources:
(i) Need to develop a sustainable path of energy development, i.e., energy development but not at the cost of environment or needs of future generation.
(ii) Judicious use of limited energy resources.
(iii) Wastage of minerals should be minimised.
(iv) Modern technology should be used for the exploitation of energy resources.
(v) Export of energy resources should be minimised.
(vi) Use of substitutes in order to save energy resources. (vii) Encourage recycling of energy resources. (Any three)
Question 52. “How can solar energy solve the energy problem to some extent in India? Give your opinion.
OR
Why is solar energy fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas of India? Explain.
Answer : (i) India is a tropical country therefore it receives sunlight in abundance throughout the year.
(ii) Solar plant can be easily established in rural and remote areas.
(iii) It will minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate quantity of manure.
Question 53. How can biogas solve the energy problem mainly in rural India? Give your suggestions.
Answer : Biogas to solve energy problem:
(i) Availability of raw material.
(ii) Awareness to be created about biogas.
(iii) It will reduce the burden on conventional sources of energy.
(iv) Educate the rural people about the use of biogas.
(v) It is a renewable source of energy.
(vi) Eco-friendly.
(vii) Model structures to be introduced by the government agencies at a subsidised rate. (Any three)
Question 54. “Minerals are indispensible part of our lives”. Support the statement with example.
Answer : Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives:
(i) Almost everything we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building or a big ship, all are made from minerals.
(ii) Th e railway lines and the tarmac (paving) of the roads, our implements and machinery too are made from minerals.
(iii) Cars, buses, trains, aeroplanes are manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from the earth.
(iv) Even the food that we eat contains minerals.
(v) In all stages of development, human beings have used minerals for their livelihood, decoration, festivities, religious and ceremonial rites.
Question 55. Explain any three values which inspire us to conserve our energy resources.
Answer : Values:
(i) Our responsible behaviour will lead us to conserve energy resources.
(ii) Our sustainable thinking which inspires us to preserve and protect the resources for the future generation.
(iii) Our consciousness towards our environment will inspire not to over-utilize the resources and exploit them.
Question 56. What efforts are required to use mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner? Explain in three points.
Answer : Following efforts have to be made to use mineral in a planned and sustainable manner:
(i) Recycling of metals: We should recycle the metal or metal-made products to prevent its scarcity. For example: Used steel blade should be sent for recycling, so that the steel can be used again for other purposes.
(ii) Improved technologies need to be evolved: Traditional technologies should be replaced with new and improved technologies, so that the wastages can be minimised.
(iii) Use of substitute or alternative resources: The resources which cannot be recycled or reused should be replaced with the recyclable resources. e.g. Use of green gas instead of coal for cooking purpose.
Question 57. India is presently one of the least energy efficient countries in the world. We have to adopt cautious approaches for the judicious use of our limited energy resources.” Analyse this statement.
OR
Explain any three steps to be taken to conserve the energy resources.
OR
How can we save our limited energy sources? Suggest any three ways for its judicious use.
Answer : The statement is right to a great extent. Therefore, we need to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of energy resources.
(i) Need to develop a sustainable path of energy development, i.e., energy development but not at the cost of environment or needs of future generation.
(ii) Judicious use of limited energy resources.
(iii) Wastage of minerals should be minimised.
(iv) Modern technology should be used for the exploitation of energy resources.
(v) Export of energy resources should be minimised.
(vi) Use of substitutes in order to save energy resources. (vii) Encourage recycling of energy resources.
Question 58. Consumption of energy in all forms has been rising all over the country. There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development and energy saving. Suggest and explain any three measures to solve this burning problem.
OR
In the present day energy crisis, which step will you take for saving energy?
Answer : The following steps can be taken for saving energy:
(i) Judicious use of energy resources.
(ii) Use of public transport/ car pool.
(iii) To use bicycle for short distances.
(iv) Switching off electrical gadgets when not in use.
(v) Regular cleaning of gas burners and switching off the gas regulator when not in use.
(vi) Avoid using refrigerator/ A. C. when not needed.
(vii) Creating awareness in neighbourhood with catchy slogans.
(viii) As India has been blessed with abundance of sunlight, water, wind and biomass, we must use these to overcome present day energy crisis. (Any three)