Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:

Mining − Use of minerals Man has been using minerals since ancient times. Minerals have been used for making weapons, tools, jewellery, medicines, utensils, etc. The various stages of cultural evolution of man are also related to the use of minerals. At the end of the Stone Age, man developed skills of using minerals. Various periods like the Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Atomic Age, respectively were delineated accordingly. Man has even started exploiting the mineral oil and natural gas reserves from the sea and ocean beds too. Man cannot manufacture the minerals that are found naturally in the earth’s crust. The distribution of minerals is highly uneven in the world. This activity depends solely on the availability of minerals and not related to latitude directly. Even though the minerals may be present, actual mining depends on several factors. These factors may be the geology of the region, the value of the minerals, climate, capital investment, technology, skilled labour, etc. Due to mechanisation, this occupation has developed on a large scale.

Questions:

1. What kind of minerals are exploited by man from sea and ocean beds?
2. Why have humans been using minerals since ancient times?
3. What is the reason for large scale development of mining activity?
4. Why the mining activity is not related to latitude directly?

Answer 1

1. Minerals like mineral oil and natural gas are exploited by man from sea and ocean beds.
2. Humans have been using minerals since ancient times for making weapons, tools, jewellery, utensils, etc.
3. Mechanisation is the reason for large scale development of mining activity.
4. Mining activity depends solely on the presence of minerals. It can be developed at any latitude having favourable factors such as availability of minerals, capital investment, modern technology, skilled labour, speedy transport facilities, etc. therefore mining activity is not related to latitude directly.