Classification of Resources:

Resources are classified on various bases. Based on the continual availability, Resources are classified in to renewable and non renewable resource

The resources which can always be used Again and again are known as renewable Resources. It means these resources have Natural regeneration and are inexhaustible. Air, water, solar energy etc are examples of Renewable resources. Non renewable resources Are available in finite quantities and cannot be obtained once if they are utilized. If these Resources are used in large scale, they will get exhausted soon and as such these resources are called as exhaustible resources. Coal, oil and Minerals are examples of this type.

Mineral Resources:

A homogeneous, naturally occurring substance which has a definite chemical composition is called a mineral. They can be identified by their Physical properties and chemical components. Minerals exist in different types based on their Formation. Almost everything we use, from a Tiny particle to a huge building or a big ship All, is made up of minerals. Minerals are one Of the most valuable resources of the earth. All The stages of human development or progress have been named after them. For example, Stone age, copper age, bronze age and Iron Age.

They are exhaustible or non renewable. Besides, they are distributed very unevenly. They are generally found in the form of ores. The ore contains several impurities. Minerals Are separated from the ores involving a number Of distinct processes.

A country’s economic development is Depending on the minerals. There are several Types of minerals, but according to their Characteristics and commercial use they are classified as shown in above chart.

Mode of Occurrence of Minerals:

Minerals are generally found in ‘Ores’. It is actually an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements. Minerals generally occur in many forms. They are:

Veins and lodes:

Minerals generally occur in the cracks, Crevices, faults and joints of the igneous and metamorphic rocks. Minerals in smaller Occurrence are called a ‘Vein’ and a larger Occurrence is called a ‘lode, for example, Copper and Gold are found in lodes and veins.

Beds or Layers:

Minerals that are formed as a result of deposition, Accumulation and concentration generally occur in horizontal layers. E.g. coal, Potash, etc.

Residual mass of weathered particles:

When the decomposed rocks are washed away by water, the soluble particles are removed, leaving a mass containing ores. Such Occurrences are called residual mass. E.g. Bauxite

Alluvial deposits:

These are the deposits found in the sands of Valley floor and at the foot hills. These deposits consist of the minerals such as Gold, Silver and Platinum.

The world distribution of minerals:

Metallic Minerals:

The minerals which contain metal in them are called as metallic minerals.

Iron – Ore:

It is the basic mineral and the backbone of Industrial development of the world. Iron Ore is the most widely distributed element of the earth’s crust and it rarely occurs in a Free State. It is found as the composition of many Rocks and minerals. Iron-ore makes up 4.6% of the earth crusts. Iron is found in the form of Iron – ore. They are classified into 4 categories.

Magnetite: It is red in colour and has 72% of pure Iron

Hematite: It is black in colour and has 70% of pure Iron

Limonite: Its colour varies from dark Brown to yellow and has 50% of pure iron.

Siderite: It is brown in colour and Contains only 30% of pure iron is present

The iron content of these ores is highly variable. If the iron content is less than 30% in an ore, it is considered to be uneconomical. Iron is mixed with fixed proportions of Manganese, Nickel, Chromium or Vanadium to make Different varieties of steel.

Iron ore is the most widely distributed Elements of the earth crust, rarely occurs in a free state. It enters into the composition of many Rocks and minerals especially from igneous and metamorphic rocks. The total recoverable Reserves of iron ore in India are haematite and magnetite.

Jharkhand is the leading producer of Iron ore with 25% the country’s production. Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Ranchi Districts are its major producers. Odisha with 21% production ranks second. Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Keonjhar districts are its major producers. The magnetite Production of Chhattisgarh is 18% (Raniganj) And Bilaspur are its leading districts) and the Karnataka is 20% (Chikmangalur, Chitradurga, Shimoga and Dharwad districts are its major Producers). Andhrapradesh and Tamil Nadu Produce about 5% each. Kurnool, Guntur, Cuddapah and Anantapur districts in Andhra Pradesh and Salem, Namakkal, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli districts in Tamil Nadu are notable for the production of iron ore.

Manganese:

Manganese is a silvery grey element. It is very hard and brittle in nature. It is always available in combination with iron, laterite and other minerals. It is an important mineral Used for making iron and steel and servesas basic raw material for alloying. It is the most important mineral for making iron and Steel. Nearly 10 kg manganese is required for manufacturing one ton of steel. It is also used in the manufacturing of bleaching powder, Insecticides, paints and batteries.

Manganese deposits occur mainly as Metamorphosed bedded sedimentary deposits. The largest deposits of manganese is found In Odisha followed by Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telengana and West Bengal together constitute about 2% of The India’s manganese resource. India is the Fifth largest producer of manganese in the World.

Copper:

Copper is the first metal that prehistoric Man has started using for many purposes. Being Flexible, it can be made into utensils of any shape. Brass and Bronze are obtained when the copper Alloys with zinc and tin respectively. Copper has been commonly used for making cooking Utensils and other objects of common utility. In Modern days, it is extensively used in vast variety Of electrical machinery, wires and cablesLargest reserves of copper ore is in the State of Rajasthan followed by Jharkhand And Madhya Pradesh. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal account for 7.9% of the total Copper reserves of India.

Bauxite:

Bauxite is an important ore from which Aluminium is extracted. It is found in the rock consisting mainly of hydrated aluminium Oxides. Bauxite is widely distributed as surface Deposits in the areas of laterite soil. Being light in weight and tough, aluminium is used in the manufacture of aircraft s and automobile Engines. Bauxite is also used in the manufacture of cement and chemicals.

The main bauxite deposits occur in Odisha, Gujarat (Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar Districts), Jharkhand (Ranchi and Gumila Districts), Maharashtra (Sindhu durg and Ratnagiri), Chhattisgarh (Ballarpur and Durg Districts), and Tamil nadu.

Non-Metallic Minerals:

These minerals do not contain metal in them. Mica, limestone, gypsum, nitrate, potash, Dolomite, coal, petroleum etc are the non-Metallic minerals.

Mica:

In ancient time, Mica was used in ayurvedic Medicine. Mica became very popular with the Development of electrical industry. Abhrak is a good quality mica. It is translucent, easily Splitable into thin sheets, flat, colourless, elastic and incompressible. Mica is used in making of insulating properties, as it withstands high Voltage and has low power loss factor. Since it is a non conductor of electricity, it is exclusively used in electrical goods. It is also used in making of lubricants, medicines, paints and varnishes.

The major deposits of mica are found In Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand

Lime Stone:

Limestone is associated with rocks Composed of either calcium carbonate or the Double carbonate of calcium and magnesium Or mixture of both. Limestone also contains Small quantities of silica, alumina, iron oxides, Phosphorous and sulphur.

Limestone is used in the industries of Chemicals for soda ash, caustic soda, bleaching Powder, paper, cement, iron and steel, glass and Fertilizers. The major producing areas: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh

Gypsum:

Gypsum is a hydrated sulphate of calcium which occurs as white, opaque or transparent Minerals in beds of sedimentary rocks such as Limestone, sandstone and shale. Gypsum is used in the manufacture of cement, fertilizers, wall Board, plaster of Paris and in soil conditioning. Rajasthan, Tamil nadu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the major Producers.

Energy Resources:

The resources from which the electricity Generated are called energy resources. Electricity is an important component of our Life. No day to day activity Takes without the use of this Energy. It is also the key factor For all economic activities And industrial development. Energy resources can be classified into renewable and non-renewable.

Coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear Minerals are the sources of non renewable Energy. Water, sun light, wind, bio gas, tides etc., Are the sources of renewable energy.

Non-Renewable Energy Resources:

Coal:

Coal is a fossil fuel. It is a flammable, black or brown sedimentary rock and is mainly composed of carbon. The dense forest Plants were converted into coal due to intense pressure and heat inside the earth by the process of carbonization. Most of The coal resources of the world were formed during the carboniferous period (280 to 350 Million years ago). The quality of the coal is determined by its carbon content. The Following types of coal have been identified On the basis of their physical properties. Since it is a valuable one, it is called as “Black Gold”

Based on carbon content, it is classified in to the following types.

1. Peat is the first stage of transformation of Wood into coal and it has only 30% to 35% of carbon.
2. Lignite or Brown coal is the inferior Quality and contains 35%-45% carbon
3. Bituminous or coking coal is the Second best variety of coal and contains 70%-90% of carbon. It is the most widely spread and most widely used variety of coal. It is the most popular coal in Commercial use.
4. Anthracite is the best quality coal, which contains more than 95% of carbon. It is Very hard but emits very less smoke and Leaves very less ash. However its deposits are limited.

Coal is an important source of energy in India with its varied and innumerable uses. It can be converted into gas, oil, electricity and Thermal power. Besides, it forms a basic raw Material for the production of chemicals, dyes, Fertilizers, paints, synthetic and explosives

Indian coal is mostly associated with Gondwana series of rocks and is primarily found In Peninsular India. The states of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh alone Account for nearly 90% of coal reserves of the Country. About 2% of India’s coal is of tertiary Type and is found mostly in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir.

Jharkhand is the largest coal producing state in the country followed by odisha, Chhattisgarh, west Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Indian lignite (brown coal) deposits occur in the southern and western parts of Peninsular India particularly in Tamil nadu, Pudhucherry and Kerala.

The Ministry of coal has over all Responsibility of determining policies and Strategies in respect of exploration and Development of coal resource in India. Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL) and Singareni Collieries Company limited (SCCL) Are its public sector under takings.

Petroleum (or) Crude oil:

The word petroleum has been derived from two Latin words petro (meaning – Rock) and oleum (meaning oil). Thus petroleum is Oil obtained from rocks of the earth. Therefore, it is also called mineral oil. Petroleum is an inflammable liquid that is composed of Hydrocarbons which constitute 90-95% of Petroleum and the remaining is chiefly organic Compounds containing oxygen, nitrogen, Sulphur and traces of organ metallic compounds.

Petroleum is used as a source of power and fuel for automobiles, aeroplanes, ships and Locomotives. Lubricants, kerosene, Vaseline, tar, Soap, Terylene and wax are it’s by products. Oil in India is obtained from both from on-shore and off-shore areas.

Petroleum reserves of the world:

The west Asia or Middle East is has the largest Petroleum reserves, which is about 60% of the World’s oil reserve. The total estimated world’s Oil reserves in 2008 were 1,243 (109 bbl). Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait have large reserves of petroleum

Western coast offshore oil fields:

1. Mumbai high oil fields (largest 65%) Bharmaputra valley (Dibrugarh and Sibsagar Districts of upper Assam.)
2. Gujarat coast (2^nd largest) Digboi oil feilds (oldest fields in country)
3. Basseim oil feild, south of Mumbai high Nahoratiya oil fields (south west of digboi)
4. Aliabet oil feild, south of Bhavanagar Moran-Hugrijan oil field (Southwest of Nahoratiya)
5. Ankleshwar Rudrasagar-Lawa oil feilds (sibsagar districs ofAssam)
6. Cambay-Luni Region Surma valley (Badarpur, Masimpur, Patharia)
7. Ahemedabad-Kalol Region

Eastern coast offshore Fields:

Bharmaputra valley (Dibrugarh and Sibsagar Districts of upper Assam.

Offshore of Andaman and Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Baleshwar coast, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Natural Gas:

Natural gas usually accompanies the Petroleum accumulations. It is naturally Occurring hydro carbon gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, but commonly includes varying amounts of other higher alkanes and sometimes a small percentage of carbon Dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulphides. It is formed when layers of decomposed plants and Animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years. It is used as a source of energy for heating, cooking and electricity Generation. It is also used as fuel for vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the manufacture of plastics and other commercially important Organic chemicals.

India has a very large proportion of tertiary Rock and alluvial deposits particularly in the extra peninsular India. These sedimentary Rocks, which were once under the shallow seas, Hold the possibility of harbouring oil and gas Deposits. The highest concentration of natural Gas is found in the Mumbai high and basseim oil Fields. Gujarat, Assam, Neypaltur, Mangmadam In Thanjavur district in Tamil nadu, Tripura, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal are the other areas where natural gas Reserves have been discovered.

Conventional Energy Sources:

Thermal power Thermal power is generated using fossil Fuels like coal, diesel, petroleum and Naturalgas. National Thermal Power Corporation [NTPC] was established in 1975. At present NTPC has 13 coal based super thermal power Projects and 7 gas / liquid fuel based combined Cycle projects in the states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and West Bengal. Neyveli, Mettur, Thoothukudi and Ennore (Chennai) are the important thermal Power stations in Tamil nadu.

Nuclear power:

The energy released during nuclear Fission or fusion is used to generate Electricity. Nuclear energy is generated mainly from the minerals of Uranium and Thorium. The first nuclear power station was setup at Tarapur near Mumbai in 1969. Later atomic Reactors were installed at Rawatbhata (335 MW), near Kota in Rajasthan (100 MW), Kalpakkam (440 MW) and Kudankulam (2,000 MW) in Tamil nadu and Narora (235 MW) in Uttar Pradesh, Kaiga in (235 MW) In Karnataka and Kakarapara (235 MW) in Gujarat.

(GREEN ENERGY)Renewable sources of Energy:

Hydro power:

Power generated from water is termed as Hydroelectricity. Hydro power is the energy Harnessed from running water. Hydro power is considered as one of the most economic and Non-polluting sources of energy. It contributes nearly 7% of global electricity production. The cost of production of hydroelectricity is relatively low, making it a competitive source of Renewable energy. It is also a flexible mode power generation as the quantity of production can either be increased or decreased very quickly adapting to changing demands.

The first hydro-electric Power station in India was established at “Darjeeling” in 1897.

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation is located in Faridabad, India.

Solar Energy:

Solar Power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar Power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems Use lenses or mirrors and tracking system to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into an electric Current using the photovoltaic effect.

The mass objectives of the solar thermal Energy programme, being implemented by The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Source (MNES) are market development, Commercialisation and utilisation of heat Energy requirement of different applications in domestic, institutional and industrial Sectors. Solar power is used in water heaters, Refrigerators, drying, street lighting; cooking, pumping, power generator, photovoltaic cells, Salon parts etc. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are the major solar power producers.

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited is a Government of India Enterprise.Its head quarter is Located at New Delhi.

Wind Energy:

Wind energy is extracted from air flow Using wind turbines. It is a cheap and pollution free source of energy. Powers from wind mills are used for pumping water and to sail propel ships. Wind power is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean and produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. These plants occupy only a less space.

The development of wind power in India Began in 1986 with first wind farms were set up In coastal areas of Gujarat (Okha), Maharashtra (Ratnagiri) and Tamil nadu (Thoothukudi) With 55 KW Vestas wind turbines. The capacity has significantly increased in the last few years. India has the fourth largest installed wind power Capacity in the world.

Tamil nadu has the largest Installation of wind turbines in the country in the Aralvoimozhi area near Kanniyakumari is the largest Concentrations of wind farm capacity at a Single location in the world.

Based on the location of its Generation it is classified into

1. Onshore wind energy and
2. Offshore wind energy

1.Onshore wind energy –Energy generated From the plants located on the land is known As onshore wind energy. Onshore wind has the Advantage of being one of the most affordable Renewable energy sources. It is cheaper than any other renewable source of energy but it requires More area to install than any other energy.

2.Offshore wind energy –It refers to the use Of wind farms developed in seas and oceans. The Largest offshore wind farms are currently in the U.K and Germany. These two countries installed 2/3 capacity. London Array is the largest offshore Wind farm in the world. The first offshore wind Farm is planned near Dhanuskodi in Tamil Nadu

The National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai was established In Tamil Nadu in 1998 as an autonomous institution under the administrative Control of the Ministry Of New and Renewable Energy. NIWE main activities include resource Assessment testing and certification.

Biomass Energy:

Bio energy may be obtained through bio-Degradable materials like animal dung, kitchen Wastes, water hyacinth, agricultural residues and City wastes etc. It is clean and cheap source of Energy. Energy derived from biomass is mostly used for domestic purposes.

Tidal and wave Energy:

There are two main sources of ocean Energy. They are Ocean tides and Ocean waves. The Gulf of Cambay is the best suited area for Tidal energy. This is followed by Gulf of Kachch (1,000MW) and sunderbans (100MW).An wave energy power plant of 150 KW (maximum) has been installed at vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram. An another plant of this kind has been set up near Andaman& Nicobar Islands.

Geo Thermal Energy:

Geo thermal energy is derived from the Natural heat of the earth. In India, exploration and study of geothermal fields started in 1970. The GSI (Geological Survey of India) has identified 350 geothermal energy locations in the country. The Most promising of these is in Puga valley of Ladakh. The estimated potential for geothermal Energy in India is about 10000 MW.  There are seven geothermal provinces in India: the Himalayas, Sohana, West coast, Cambay, Son-Narmada-Tapti (SONATA), Godavari, and Mahanadi

Conservation of Resources:

It takes millions of years for the formation of minerals. Compared to the present Rate of consumption, the Replenishment rate of minerals is very slow. Hence, mineral Resources are finite and non- renewable. Due To this, it is important to conserve the mineral Resources.

Ways of Conserving Resources:

1. Controlling population growth will reduce the demand for resources.
2. Creating social awareness regarding the importance of conservation of Resources.
3. Reusing and recycling of resources.