MINERAL RESOURCES

Dr. AMITA SAXENA

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 Mineral
resources
•A mineral is a naturally occurring
substance of definite chemical
composition and recognizable physical
properties.
•Almost every area of human activity
depends on minerals. Almost all industries
viz. construction, manufacturing,
transportation, medicaltechnology,
science and electronics utilize minerals.

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 Mineral
resources
•An ore is a mineral or combination of
minerals from which a useful substance, such
as a metal, can be extracted and used to
manufacture a useful product.
•Minerals are formed over a period of
millions of years in the earth’s crust. Iron,
aluminium, zinc, manganese and copper are
important raw materials for industrial use.

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 Mineral
resources
•Most of the rocks, present everywhere
around us, are composed of only a few
common minerals like quartz, feldspar,
dolomite, calcite etc.
•These rocks are composed of only a few
elements like silicon, oxygen, iron,
magnesium, calcium, aluminium etc.

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 Mineral
resources
Following are the two types of mineral
resources:
• 1. Metallic
• 2. Non-metallic
•About 3500 minerals are known to man.
The need and consumption of minerals has
increased due to faster industrialisation and
development of newer technologies with
passing time.

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 Environmental
Problems
•Mining and processing of minerals/
ores involve major environmental
problems
•disturbance of land
•air pollution from dust and smelter
emission,
•water pollution from disrupted aquifers.

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 Mineral
resources
•Important non-metal resources include
coal, salt, clay, limestone and silica.
•Stone used for building material, such
as granite, marble, limestone,
constitute another category of minerals.
•Minerals with special properties that
humans value for their aesthetic and
ornamental value are gems such as
diamonds, emeralds, rubies. The lustre of
gold, silver and platinum is used for
ornaments. 8
 Mineral
resources
•Minerals in the form of oil, gas and coal were
formed when ancient plants and animals
were converted into underground fossil fuels.
•Minerals and their ores need to be
extracted from the earth’s interior so that
they can be used. This process is known as
mining.

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 Mineral resources of
India
•India produces around 100 minerals, which
are an important source for earning
foreign exchange as well for domestic
needs.
•We import graphite, mercury, cobalt, etc.,
and export iron ore, granite, bauxite,
titanium, manganese, etc.
•The availability of minerals in the country
is uneven and mineral quality varies from
region to region
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 Mineral resources of
India
•Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite,
copper, etc., are mostly found in Jharkhand,
West Bengal and Orissa. These regions are
called the mineral heartland of India.
•Gems, marble, coal, mica, graphite,
manganese etc. are found in large
quantities in Chattisgarh, Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra.

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 Mineral resources of
India
The major non-metal resources are: coal,
petroleum, limestone, bauxite, hematite,
marble, asbestos, granite, mica, phosphate,
potash, sand and gravel etc.

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 Iron
Minin
g

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Burning coal in
Mines

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 Applications of
Mineral Minerals
Major Applications
Coal Energy production
Graphite Pencil lead, Lubricants, Electrodes, Sports
equipment, Aerospace
Gypsum Cement , Plasters, Soil conditioners,
Pharmaceuticals
Garnet Fine polishing and grinding, Abrasives,
Gemstones
Limestone Cement, Wall Paints, soil stabilization, Water
treatment
Marble Used as stone in building construction,
decorative items, floor and bath tiles
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 Applications of
Minerals
Mineral Major Applications
Phosphorus Fertilisers, medicine
Sulphur Gunpowder, Insecticides, medicine
Silica glass and refractory materials, ceramics,
abrasives
Soda Ash Manufacture of glass, fiberglass, specialty
glass, and flat glass; papermaking process.
Talc talcum powder, paints

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Environmental Effects of Extracting and
Using Mineral Resources
•The impacts on forest, land, occupation,
water, ecological functions, rehabilitation
•of population, or impact on flowers due to
pollution created during extraction and use
of mineral resources are
•Deforestation including to loss of flora
and fauna.
•Degradation of land due to excavations.
•Occupational health hazards.

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Environmental Effects of Extracting and
Using Mineral Resources
•Pollution of ground and surface water
resources due to accidental or periodic
discharge of pollutants.
•Damage to local ecological functions,
nutrient cycling and biodiversity due to
alterations in water availability or quality.
•Problem in rehabilitation of affected
population.

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Environmental Effects of Extracting and
Using Mineral Resources
•Pollution of air due to emission of dust and
poisonous gases during mining and
processing stages. Problems in providing
living environment and clean water, air, etc.,
for the survival of large number of workers
who have migrated nearby mine sites.
•Problems in the safe disposal of
tremendous amounts of solid waste
generated during mining.

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 Environmental Effects of Extracting
and Using Mineral Resources
•Mining operations are considered one of the main
causes of environmental degradation.
•Depletion of available land due to mining,
•Waste from industries
•Conversion of land to industry
•Pollution of land, water and air by industrial
wastes
•Public awareness of this problem have led to
enacting of many laws towards the prevention
of activities that adversely affect the
environment.
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 Conservation of Mineral
Resources
•The mineral resources are essential for
the development of a country.
•The increasing population in the world with
better lifestyles are responsible for the
utilisation of mineral resources at a fast rate.
•The processes of mineral formation are so
slow that the rates of replenishment are very
small in comparison to the present rates of
utilisation.

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 Conservation of Mineral
Resources
•Therefore, mineral resources will be
available for a limited time only.
•Sincere efforts are required for the use of
mineral resources in a sustainable manner.
The following steps are very helpful for the
conservation of mineral resources:
•Promotion of the use of improved
technologies so as to reduce waste
generation.

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 Conservation of Mineral
Resources
•Promotion of the recycling of metals.
•Regulation of the use of mineral resources.
•Reduction of the undesirable consumption
of mineral resources.
•Promotion of research towards providing
suitable ecofriendly alternatives for
fossil fuels, metals, etc.

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