Mineral Resources

Introduction

Minerals are naturally occurring substances that are essential for the formation and functioning of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. In the modern era, human civilization depends on a wide variety of minerals to sustain industrial growth. Mineral resources encompass elements, chemical compounds, and mixtures that are extracted for manufacturing essential commodities.

India possesses a rich mineral resource base, providing a strong foundation for industrial development. The country has substantial reserves of nuclear energy minerals and is self-sufficient in petroleum, copper, lead, zinc, tin, graphite, mercury, tungsten, and minerals required for the fertilizer industry, such as sulfur, potassium, and phosphorus.

Exploitation of Minerals

Mineral resources can be categorized based on their uses:

• Metals for production and technology (e.g., iron, copper, aluminum, zinc)
• Building materials (e.g., limestone, sand, gravel, marble)
• Chemical industry minerals (e.g., sulfur, potash, phosphate)
• Agricultural minerals (e.g., fertilizers, phosphates)

Global Consumption Trends

• Sodium and iron: Used at rates of 0.1 to 1.0 billion metric tons per year.
• Nitrogen, sulfur, potassium, and calcium: Used in fertilizers at rates of 10 to 100 million metric tons per year.
• Zinc, copper, aluminum, and lead: Consumed at rates of 3 to 10 million metric tons per year.
• Gold and silver: Consumed at rates of about 10,000 metric tons per year.
• Iron: Accounts for 95% of the total metal consumption.

Despite the abundance of certain minerals, depletion of easily accessible deposits is anticipated in the near future, leading to concerns about shortages of crucial elements like mercury, tin, copper, gold, silver, and platinum.

Uses of Minerals

Minerals are essential for multiple sectors:

1. Industrial Use: Steel, machinery, and electronics depend on metals like iron, copper, and aluminum.
2. Construction: Sand, gravel, limestone, and marble are crucial in the construction industry.
3. Agriculture: Fertilizers contain essential minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.
4. Defense and Aerospace: Rare earth minerals are used in defense technology and spacecraft.
5. Energy Production: Coal, uranium, and petroleum-based minerals are fundamental to energy generation.

With increasing population and industrial expansion, the demand for minerals continues to rise, leading to concerns over sustainable extraction and usage.

Environmental Impacts of Mineral Extraction

Extracting and utilizing mineral resources can significantly impact the environment. The severity of these effects depends on factors such as mining procedures, ore quality, climate, size of operations, and topography. Key environmental concerns include:

1. Land Degradation: Open-pit mining and deforestation lead to loss of arable land.
2. Water Pollution: Mining operations contaminate surface and groundwater with toxic substances.
3. Loss of Vegetation: Mineral leaching affects plant growth and biodiversity.
4. Air Pollution: Dust and emissions from mining contribute to air pollution.
5. Biodiversity Loss: Mining destroys ecosystems, affecting species populations and their habitats.
6. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Mining and processing of minerals account for nearly half of global greenhouse gas emissions.
7. Water Stress: Over 90% of global water stress is attributed to resource extraction and processing.
8. Sinkholes and Seismic Activity: Mining-related activities can cause geological instability, resulting in sinkholes and earthquakes.

Conservation of Minerals

To ensure the sustainable use of mineral resources, conservation strategies must be implemented:

1. Efficient Mining and Processing: Industries should adopt advanced technologies to minimize waste.
2. Recycling: Metals like aluminum, copper, lead, and zinc should be recycled to reduce dependency on new mining.
3. Substitution: Industries should explore alternative materials to replace scarce minerals.
4. Legislation and Policies: Governments should enforce strict laws to regulate mining and promote responsible resource management.
5. Sustainable Extraction Techniques: Methods such as bio-mining and in-situ leaching should be explored to reduce environmental impact.

Case Studies

1. Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan

• The Aravalli mountain range, covering about 10% of India’s geographical area, is rich in mineral wealth.
• The range plays a vital role in climate regulation and water conservation.
• Due to excessive mining activities, environmentalists appealed to the Supreme Court, which subsequently ordered a halt to mining operations in Rajasthan.

2. Rajsamand Lake, Rajasthan

• Extensive marble mining near Rajsamand Lake led to its drying up.
• In December 2002, the government intervened, and mining was stopped to restore the lake’s ecological balance.

3. Goa Mining Controversy

• The rampant extraction of iron ore in Goa led to severe environmental damage, including deforestation and water contamination.
• Public protests and media attention forced the government to take action, leading to a ban on illegal mining operations.