CBSE Class 10 Social Science Minerals and Energy Resources Important Questions Set 06

Important Questions

Question 1. Which of the following minerals is used to harden steel during its manufacturing: (a) Iron ore (b) Coking coal (c) Manganese (d) Limestone?
Answer:
(c) Manganese — used to harden steel and remove impurities during steel manufacturing.

Teacher's Note:
a) Manganese hardens steel during manufacturing.
b) Nearly 10 kg of manganese is needed per tonne of steel produced.

Question 2. Name the industry which uses limestone as its main raw material.
Answer:
The cement industry uses limestone as its main raw material.

Teacher's Note:
a) Limestone is the key raw material for cement manufacturing.
b) Cement plants are often located close to limestone deposits.

Question 3. Describe any three characteristics of the Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur iron-ore belt in India.
Answer:
The Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
It provides very high-grade haematite from the famous Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
The range of hills comprises 14 deposits of super high-grade haematite iron ore, with the best physical properties needed for steel-making.
Iron ore from these mines is exported to Japan and South Korea via Visakhapatnam Port.

Teacher's Note:
a) This belt (Chhattisgarh/Maharashtra) has very high-grade haematite from the Bailadila hills.
b) Its ore is exported to Japan and South Korea via Visakhapatnam Port.

Question 4. Describe any three characteristics of the Odisha-Jharkhand belt of iron ore in India.
Answer:
In Odisha, high-grade haematite ore is found in Badampahar mines, in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts.
In the adjoining Singbhum district of Jharkhand, haematite iron ore is mined at Gua and Noamundi.
These mines feed the steel industry in eastern and other parts of India.

Teacher's Note:
a) This belt spans Mayurbhanj/Kendujhar (Odisha) and Singbhum (Jharkhand).
b) Its ore supplies steel plants across eastern India.

Question 5. Describe any three characteristics of the Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikmagaluru-Tumakuru iron-ore belt in India.
Answer:
This belt in Karnataka has large reserves of iron ore.
The Kudremukh mines are located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.
They are a 100 per cent export unit.
Kudremukh's deposits are known to be among the largest in the world; the ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangaluru.

Teacher's Note:
a) Kudremukh mines (Western Ghats, Karnataka) are a fully export-oriented iron ore unit.
b) Ore is piped as slurry to a port near Mangaluru for export.

Question 6. “India is an important iron and steel producing country in the world, yet we are not able to perform to our full potential.” Suggest and explain any three measures to reach full potential.
Answer:
India underperforms largely due to high costs and limited availability of coking coal, and poor supportive infrastructure; many steel plants also have outdated technology.
Performance can be improved by: modernising technology and machinery.
Streamlining the supply of inputs such as iron ore, coke, etc.
Having an adequate buffer of electricity capacity.
Streamlining customer demand and supplies.

Teacher's Note:
a) Coking coal shortages, poor infrastructure and outdated tech limit India's steel output.
b) Modernising technology, inputs, power supply and demand management can raise this towards full potential.

Question 7. Describe any three features of ferrous minerals found in India.
Answer:
Ferrous minerals in India account for approximately three-fourths of the total value of production of metallic minerals.
They provide a strong foundation for the expansion of metallurgical industries.
India is also a leading exporter of ferrous minerals; magnetite and haematite are some common ferrous minerals, chiefly found in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ferrous minerals make up about three-fourths of India's metallic mineral output value.
b) Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are the chief states for these minerals.

Question 8. Why is mica considered the most important mineral in the electric and electronic industries? Give three reasons.
Answer:
It has excellent dielectric strength and a low power-loss factor.
It has insulating properties and resistance to high voltage.
These properties make it the most indispensable mineral used in electric and electronic industries.

Teacher's Note:
a) Mica's dielectric strength, insulation and high-voltage resistance make it ideal for electronics.
b) This is why it's considered indispensable in electric and electronic industries.

Question 9. Differentiate between metallic and non-metallic minerals, with examples.
Answer:
Metallic minerals are those that can be processed to obtain metals; examples include magnetite, haematite and bauxite; they are generally associated with igneous and metamorphic rocks, and are usually hard with a shine or lustre of their own.
Non-metallic minerals are those that do not yield new products on melting.

Teacher's Note:
a) Metallic minerals (e.g. magnetite, haematite, bauxite) yield metals and have natural lustre.
b) Non-metallic minerals, by contrast, don't produce new products when melted.