What are minerals and energy resources?
The term ‘resources’ is usually used in the context of natural resources which are un-exhaustible and renewable. Mineral resources, as the name suggests, are resources that come from minerals. Energy resources, on the other hand, encompass all sources of energy, both renewable and non-renewable.
What is the difference between mineral and energy resources?
Energy resources are things we can use to turn into electrical power or resources that generate energy. These include fossil fuels, nuclear, wind, water and solar power whereas mineral resources are solid , crystalline substances made inside the earth .
How many types of energy minerals are there?
Minerals are classified into two types: Metallic and non-metallic. Metallic Minerals: They are further sub-divided into ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous minerals: They contain iron.
What are the sources of mineral resources?
(i) Non-metallic minerals e.g. graphite, diamond, quartz, feldspar. (ii) Metallic minerals e.g. bauxite, laterite, haematite etc. Minerals are sometimes classified as Critical and Strategic. Critical minerals are essential for the economy of a nation e.g. iron, aluminium, copper, gold etc.
What is an energy mineral?
Energy minerals are used to produce electricity, fuel for transportation, heating for homes and offices and in the manufacture of plastics. Energy minerals include coal, oil, natural gas and uranium. Metals have a wide variety of uses.
How do humans use minerals and energy resources?
Humans use natural resources for everything they do: for example, they use soil and water to grow food, wood to burn to provide heat or to build shelters, and materials such as iron or copper extracted from Earth to make cooking pans.
What do you mean by mineral resources?
A Mineral Resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.
What are ways to conserve energy and mineral resources?
How can we conserve mineral resources?
- Reduce wastage in the process of mining.
- Recycling of metals using scrap metals.
- Use of alternative renewable substitutes.
- Use of mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner.
- Use of improved technologies to allow the use of low-grade ores at low costs.
What are the characteristics of mineral resources?
The following are the main characteristics of mineral resources:
- Mineral resources are nonrenewable resources.
- Mineral resources have a definite chemical composition.
- The minerals whatever the type cannot be used directly.
- Minerals come from inorganic processes.
Why is energy important?
Energy is essential to life and all living organisms. The sun, directly or indirectly, is the source of all the energy available on Earth. Our energy choices and decisions impact Earth’s natural systems in ways we may not be aware of, so it is essential that we choose our energy sources carefully.
Why should we conserve minerals and energy resources?
Mineral resources need to be conserved because they are limited. It takes billions of years for them to be replenished in nature. Continued extraction of ores leads to increasing costs of extraction and a decrease in quality as well as quantity.
Are minerals a source of energy?
Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium and from electricity. Energy resources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional sources.
Do minerals have energy?
Minerals do not supply energy directly.
What are mineral resources uses?
Some of the uses of mineral resources are: Used in construction of buildings, bridges and housing settlement. ADVERTISEMENTS: 2. Development of industries and machinery. 3. Used for generation of energy mainly Coal, petroleum and natural gas.
Why do we need mineral resources?
Importance of Minerals We need minerals to make cars, computers, appliances, concrete roads, houses, tractors, fertilizer, electrical transmission lines, and jewelry. Without mineral resources, industry would collapse and living standards would plummet.