Earth's crust contains minerals embedded in rocks. Minerals can be classified as ferrous, non-ferrous, or precious depending on their metal content. They also include non-metallic minerals and energy minerals like coal. Minerals form in rocks through igneous and sedimentary processes and are also found in deposits from weathering, oceans, and alluvium. India has a variety of unevenly distributed mineral resources including coal, metals, and petroleum concentrated in certain geological areas.

2. Earth’s crust is made up of different minerals embedded in the rocks.various metals
are extracted from these minerals after proper refinement.
A homogenous, naturally occurring substance with definable internal structure is
called mineral.
They’re found in varied forms in nature,ranging from the hardest diamond to the
softest talc.

3. Minerals
Metallic
Ferrous
Non-
ferrous
precious
Non-
metallic
Energy
minerals

4. Can be classed into three types:
1. Ferrous Containing: Minerals that contain iron in them are
said to be Ferrous Minerals. Eg:- iron ore, manganese,
nickle.
2. Non-ferrous: Minerals that dose not contain iron are called
Non-Ferrous Minerals. Eg:- copper, lead, tin.
3. Precious: those minerals that occur natutrally and have high
economic value are known as Precious Minerals. Eg:- gold,
silver, platinum.

5. Minerals that appears to be dull and not really reflective can be said Non-
Metallic Minerals.
Eg:- mica, salt, potash, sulphur, granite, limestone, marble etc.,

6. Minerals through which we obtain required energy for our industrial as well as
daily purposes is known as Energy Minerals. Eg:- coal, petroleum and bio gas.

7. In igneous and metamorphic rocks: The smaller occurrences are called veins
and the larger occurrences are called lodes. They are usually formed when
minerals in liquid/molten and gaseous forms are forced upwards through
cavities towards the earth’s surface. Examples: tin, copper, zinc, lead, etc.
In sedimentary rocks: In these rocks, minerals occur in beds or layers. Coal,
iron ore, gypsum, potash salt and sodium salt are the minerals found in
sedimentary rocks.

8. By decomposition of surface rocks: Decomposition of surface rocks and
removal of soluble constituents leaves a residual mass of weathered
material which contains ores. Bauxite is formed in this way.
As alluvial deposits: These minerals are found in sands of valley floors and
the base of hills. These deposits are called placer deposits. They generally
contain those minerals which are not corroded by water. Examples; gold,
silver, tin, platinum, etc.
In ocean water: Most of the minerals in ocean water are too widely
diffused to be of economic importance. But common salt, magnesium and
bromine are mainly derived from ocean waters.

9. •India have rich and varied mineral resources, and these are unevenly distributed.
•Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal,metallic minerals mica and
many other non-metallic minerals.
•Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula,in gujarat
and assam have most of the petroleum deposits.
•The vast alluvial plains of north India are almost devoid of economic minerals.
•These variations exist largely because of the differences in the geological
structure,processes and time involved in the formation of minerals.