We use various items made of metals in our daily lives. The Earth's crust is made up of different minerals embedded in rocks, from which metals are extracted after proper refinement. Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives, used in everything from a tiny pin to towering buildings, ships, railway lines, and machinery. Even the food we eat contains minerals, which are vital for life processes.
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. A particular mineral's characteristics (color, hardness, crystal form, lustre, and density) depend upon the physical and chemical conditions under which it forms.
Life processes cannot occur without minerals. Although our mineral intake represents only about $0.3\%$ of our total intake of nutrients, they are so potent and important that without them we would not be able to utilise the other $99.7\%$ of foodstuffs.
Minerals are usually found in ores. The term ore is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements. Minerals generally occur in the following forms:
Minerals are broadly classified into three main categories:
Ferrous minerals account for about three-fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals in India.
Iron ore is the basic mineral and the backbone of industrial development. India is rich in good quality iron ores:
Major iron ore belts in India include:
Mainly used in manufacturing steel and ferro-manganese alloy. Nearly $10\text{ kg}$ of manganese is required to manufacture one tonne of steel. It is also used in bleaching powder, insecticides, and paints. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are major producers.
India is critically deficient in the reserve and production of copper. Being malleable, ductile, and a good conductor, it is mainly used in electrical cables, electronics, and chemical industries. Leading producers include Balaghat mines (Madhya Pradesh), Khetri mines (Rajasthan), and Singhbhum (Jharkhand).
Bauxite is a clay-like substance from which alumina and later aluminium is obtained. Aluminium is important because it combines the strength of metals like iron with extreme lightness, good conductivity, and great malleability. Major deposits are in Amarkantak plateau, Maikal hills, and Bilaspur-Katni. Odisha is the largest producing state.
Mica is made up of a series of plates or leaves that split easily into thin sheets. Due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating properties, and resistance to high voltage, it is indispensable in electric and electronic industries. Major deposits are in Chota Nagpur plateau (Koderma-Gaya-Hazaribagh belt in Jharkhand), Ajmer (Rajasthan), and Nellore (Andhra Pradesh).
Limestone is found in association with rocks composed of calcium carbonates or calcium and magnesium carbonates. It is the basic raw material for the cement industry and essential for smelting iron ore in blast furnaces.
Mining is often called a "killer industry" due to its severe impacts on health and the environment:
Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable. The geological processes of mineral formation are extremely slow compared to current consumption rates. Conservation strategies include:
Energy is required for all activities and can be generated from conventional and non-conventional sources.
The most abundantly available fossil fuel in India. It is classified into different types based on compression and depth of burial:
In India, coal occurs in Gondwana deposits (Damodar valley: Raniganj, Jharia, Bokaro) and Tertiary deposits (North-eastern states).
Provides fuel, lubricants, and raw materials for various industries. Petroleum refineries act as a "nodal industry" for synthetic textiles, fertilizers, and chemical industries. Major production areas include Mumbai High, Gujarat (Ankeleshwar), and Assam (Digboi, Naharkatiya).
An environment-friendly fuel used as a domestic and industrial fuel, power generation, and transport fuel (CNG). Major reserves are in Mumbai High, Cambay basin, and Krishna-Godavari basin. The Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline is a key cross-country pipeline.
Generated via running water (hydro electricity - renewable) or by burning fossil fuels (thermal electricity - non-renewable).
Energy conservation and the increased use of renewable energy sources are the twin planks of sustainable energy. Citizens can contribute by using public transport, switching off electricity when not in use, and using power-saving devices.