Minerals and Energy Resources PDF

manure. Biogas is by far the most efficient geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures use of cattle dung. It improves the quality of are found at shallow depths. Groundwater in manure and also prevents the loss of trees such areas absorbs heat...

manure. Biogas is by far the most efficient geothermal gradient is high, high temperatures use of cattle dung. It improves the quality of are found at shallow depths. Groundwater in manure and also prevents the loss of trees such areas absorbs heat from the rocks and and manure due to burning of fuel wood becomes hot. It is so hot that when it rises to and cow dung cakes. the earth’s surface, it turns into steam. This steam is used to drive turbines and generate electricity. There are several hundred hot springs in India, which could be used to generate electricity. Two experimental projects have been set up in India to harness geothermal energy. One is located in the Parvati valley near Manikarn in Himachal Pradesh and the other is located in the Puga Valley, Ladakh. Conservation of Energy Resources Energy is a basic requirement for economic development. Every sector of the national Fig. 5.12: Biogas Plant economy – agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and domestic – needs inputs of Tidal Energy energy. The economic development plans Oceanic tides can be used to generate implemented since Independence necessarily electricity. Floodgate dams are built across required increasing amounts of energy to inlets. During high tide water flows into the remain operational. As a result, consumption inlet and gets trapped when the gate is closed. of energy in all forms has been steadily rising After the tide falls outside the flood gate, the all over the country. water retained by the floodgate flows back to In this background, there is an urgent need the sea via a pipe that carries it through a to develop a sustainable path of energy power-generating turbine. development. Promotion of energy conservation In India the Gulf of Khambhat, the Gulf and increased use of renewable energy sources of Kuchchh in Gujarat on the western coast are the twin planks of sustainable energy. and Gangetic delta in Sunderban regions of India is presently one of the least energy West Bengal provide ideal conditions for efficient countries in the world. We have to utilising tidal energy. adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources. For Geo Thermal Energy example, as concerned citizens we can do our Geo thermal energy refers to the heat and bit by using public transport systems instead electricity produced by using the heat from of individual vehicles; switching off electricity the interior of the Earth. Geothermal energy when not in use, using power-saving devices exists because, the Earth grows progressively and using non-conventional sources of energy. hotter with increasing depth. Where the After all, “energy saved is energy produced”. EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES 1. Multiple choice questions. (i) Which one of the following minerals is formed by decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of weathered material? (a) coal (b) bauxite (c) gold (d) zinc (ii) Koderma, in Jharkhand is the leading producer of which one of the following minerals? (a) bauxite (b) mica (c) iron ore (d) copper MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES 55 Reprint 2024-25