16. Natural Resources

The earth’s crust is made of rocks. Rocks are made of minerals. Minerals are obtained by mining. Minerals with a high amount of a metal are called ores. Metals are obtained from ores.

Minerals are of three types:

• Metal minerals: iron, gold, silver, bauxite, manganese
• Non-metal minerals: mica, sulphur, gypsum, graphite
• Energy minerals: coal, mineral oil, natural gas

Minerals are used to make machines, vehicles, wires, utensils and medicines.

A large area covered by many types of plants is called a forest. About 30% of the land on earth is covered by forests.

• Protective functions: Forests prevent soil erosion and control floods. They give shelter to wild animals. They keep the balance of gases in the air.
• Productive functions: Forests give us wood, medicinal plants, rubber, gum, honey, fruits, fibres and paper.

Resources obtained from seas and oceans are called marine resources.

• Energy: Electricity is made from waves and tides.
• Minerals: Salt, magnesium, potassium, sodium and thorium are obtained.
• Mineral oil and natural gas: They are obtained by drilling the sea bed, e.g. Bombay High.
• Bio-resources: Fish, prawns, shells and pearls are obtained.

Fuels formed from the remains of plants and animals buried under the earth for millions of years are called fossil fuels. They are of three types: coal (solid), mineral oil (liquid) and natural gas (gas).

Petroleum gas (LPG), aviation petrol, petrol, kerosene, diesel, naphtha, lubricating oil and tar.

• Wood and firewood from teak, neem and acacia.
• Medicinal plants like adulsa, neem and cinchona.
• Rubber, gum, fibres and paper.
• Fragrant oils and sandalwood.
• Fruits, honey, sealing wax and dyes.

• Fish, prawns and shrimps: used as food.
• Oil of shark and cod fish: rich in vitamins.
• Shells, conches and pearls: used for ornaments and decorative articles.
• Salt: used in food and industries.
• Thorium: used to produce atomic energy.
• Magnesium, potassium and sodium: used in industries.
• Mineral oil and natural gas: used as fuels.
• Waves and tides: used to produce electricity.

• Petrol and diesel are obtained from mineral oil. Its stock is limited.
• It takes millions of years to form. So it may get used up soon.
• India imports a large amount of crude oil. This costs a lot of money.
• Burning fuel pollutes the air.

So we must not waste fuel.

• Forests are cut for farming, roads, dams, industries and towns.
• Trees are cut for wood, but new trees are not planted.
• Forest fires destroy plants and animals.
• Animals are hunted.
• Pollution and overgrazing harm forests.

So plants and animals lose their homes and their number decreases.

• Iron ore – iron (used for railway tracks, machines)
• Bauxite – aluminium (used for aeroplanes, utensils)
• Copper ore – copper (used for electric wires)
• Manganese ore – manganese (used in medicines, glass)
• Mica – mica sheets (used in electric machines)

The two stages are extraction and purification. The impurities of sand and soil in an ore are called gangue.

• Use minerals carefully. Recycle and reuse metal articles.
• Do not waste fuel and electricity. Use solar and wind energy.
• Do not cut young trees. Plant more trees than are cut.
• Follow forest laws strictly. Set up sanctuaries and national parks.
• Do not throw waste and plastic into the sea. Avoid overfishing.
• Create awareness among people about saving resources.

• Natural resources give raw materials for industries.
• Coal, mineral oil and natural gas give energy to run factories and vehicles.
• Fertile soil and water help agriculture.
• Extra resources can be exported. This brings money to the country.
• Mining, fishing and forestry give jobs to many people.

So a country rich in natural resources can develop fast. A country without resources has to import them at a high cost.

I will grow these medicinal plants:

• Tulsi – for cough and cold
• Adulsa – for cough
• Neem – for skin problems
• Aloe vera (korphad) – for burns and skin care
• Amla – a good source of vitamin C
• Mint (pudina) – for indigestion

Why: These plants are easy to grow. They are useful for home remedies. They keep the surroundings green. We can also learn about medicinal plants.

1. Collect empty shells from the beach. Do not take shells with living animals.
2. Wash and dry them.
3. Decide what to make – a photo frame, pen stand or wall hanging.
4. Stick the shells on a cardboard or box with glue.
5. Apply a coat of varnish to make it shine.

• Coal: Jharia (Jharkhand), Raniganj (West Bengal), Chandrapur (Maharashtra)
• Iron ore: Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa
• Manganese: Nagpur and Bhandara (Maharashtra), Madhya Pradesh
• Bauxite: Odisha, Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Gujarat
• Copper: Khetri (Rajasthan), Jharkhand
• Mica: Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh
• Gold: Hutti (Karnataka)
• Mineral oil: Bombay High, Digboi (Assam), Ankleshwar (Gujarat)