We use different things in our daily life made from metal. Various metals are extracted from minerals after proper refinement. Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives.
Minerals are usually found in ores.
Ferrous minerals account for about three-fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals. Iron ore is the basic mineral and the backbone of industrial development. The major iron ore belts in India are:
- Odisha - Jharkhand belt
- Durg - Bastar - Chandrapur belt
- Ballari - Chitradurga - Chikkamagaluru - Tumakuru belt
- Maharashtra - Goa belt
Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloy.
India’s reserves and production of non-ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory. However, these minerals, which include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold play a vital role in a number of metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries.
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. Conventional sources include: firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas and electricity (both hydel and thermal). Non-conventional sources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic energy.