Question

What are minerals? How are they important to us?

Answer 1

Hint: Minerals are naturally occurring substances such as coal, petroleum, gold, etc. They are used in our daily life in various forms. Graphite is used for making pencil lead.

Complete answer:
Minerals are naturally occurring substances found beneath the surface of the earth in the form of rocks. They are sub-categorized into metallic and non-metallic minerals due to their different physical properties and chemical composition. They are present around us in various forms and are an indispensable part of our daily life. Minerals such as aluminum, copper, and gold are used in making utensils, jewellery, coins, and electronic components that are wire. Coal, petroleum, natural gases are the main source of fuel for air, water, and land transport making life easier and efficient. In India, Heavy deposits of minerals are found in The North-Eastern Plateau Region, The South-Western Plateau Region, and The North-Western region. The study of a mineral is known as mineralogy. Minerals serve as a backbone to industries which are an important source of the country’s economy. A petroleum-rich country such as Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world.
India is the fourth largest reserve of coal in the world. It is also the fifth-largest reserve of mica, bauxite and the seventh-largest producer of iron ore, manganese ore in the world.
Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat are top producers of minerals in India.

Note: The deepest mine in the world is in South Africa. It is 4km deep. To reach the centre of the earth you will have to dig a hole of 6000km which is practically impossible. The Himalayan belt is a rich mineral belt. It has rich deposits of zinc, tungsten.