12th Standard Geography — Resources Online Test
Unit 3 of Class 12 Geography explains how resources are classified, how minerals occur in veins, beds and alluvial deposits, where the world's iron, manganese, copper, bauxite, gold and other minerals are produced, the conventional and renewable sources of energy, and the ways of conserving resources for the future.
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About Resources
Medium ~60 min study
Resources is the third unit of the Tamil Nadu State Board Class 12 (Plus Two) Geography book. It opens with Voyager 1, still travelling on hydrazine fuel since 1977, and asks why hydrogen may be the fuel of the future.
The unit classifies resources, describes the types and modes of occurrence of minerals, and maps the world production of metallic and non-metallic minerals with tables of the leading countries. It then covers coal, petroleum, natural gas and nuclear energy before turning to hydel, solar, wind, tidal and geothermal power, with a case study of the Kamuthi solar plant.
This page gathers the book-back one mark questions with answers checked against the lesson, plus additional questions on producers, ores, energy facts and conservation, each with a short explanation.
What you'll learn
- Classify resources on the basis of availability, origin, development and distribution.
- Distinguish metallic, non-metallic and energy minerals and their modes of occurrence.
- Name the leading producers of iron ore, manganese, copper, bauxite, gold, platinum and phosphate.
- Compare the types of coal by carbon content and describe petroleum and natural gas.
- Describe hydel, solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy with examples from India and the world.
- List the methods of conserving resources.
Before you start
- Rock types (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) from the lithosphere lessons.
- A world political map showing the major countries and continents.
- The idea of renewable and non-renewable energy from earlier classes.
Topics covered in this chapter
Resources explained
What this unit covers
Classification of resources
Resources are renewable or non-renewable by availability, biotic or abiotic by origin, potential or developed by status of development, natural or man-made, and ubiquitous or localised.
Mineral resources
Minerals are metallic (ferrous, non-ferrous, precious), non-metallic or energy minerals. They occur in veins and lodes, in beds or layers, as residual mass and in alluvial deposits.
World distribution of minerals
Australia leads iron ore and bauxite, South Africa leads manganese and platinum, Chile leads copper and China leads gold and phosphate. India holds the largest manganese reserves but ranks 8th in production.
Energy resources
Coal ranges from peat to anthracite. Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer and the Middle East holds about 60% of reserves. Natural gas is called green energy. Renewable sources include hydel, solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy.
Conservation of resources
Minerals take millions of years to form, so the unit lists ways to conserve them, from controlling population growth to choosing products with less packaging.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling India the 4th largest oil producer. India is placed 24th; Saudi Arabia is first and Russia second.
- Saying Russia is the largest producer of iron ore. Russia has the largest reserves; Australia is the largest producer.
- Treating India as the top manganese producer. India has the largest reserves but ranks 8th; South Africa leads.
- Writing that anthracite gives more smoke. It is the best coal, with more than 95% carbon and very little smoke and ash.
- Naming Canada as the largest hydro electricity producer. China is first, followed by Canada.
Test yourself on these with the practice test, then check the worked reasoning in the solved MCQs.
Frequently asked questions
What are renewable and non-renewable resources?
Renewable resources can be used again and again because they regenerate naturally and are inexhaustible, such as air, water and solar energy. Non-renewable resources exist in finite quantities and cannot be obtained again once used, so they are also called exhaustible resources. Coal, oil and minerals are examples.
How do minerals occur in nature?
Minerals occur in veins and lodes in the cracks and joints of igneous and metamorphic rocks, in horizontal beds or layers such as coal and potash, as residual mass left after soluble particles are washed away, as with bauxite, and in alluvial deposits of gold, silver and platinum.
What are the four types of iron ore?
Magnetite has 72% pure iron, hematite 70%, limonite 50% and siderite only 30%. An ore with less than 30% iron is considered uneconomical. Australia is the largest producer of iron ore, while Russia has the largest reserves.
Why is anthracite the best coal?
Anthracite contains more than 95% carbon, the highest of all coal types. It is very hard, emits very little smoke and leaves very little ash. However, its deposits are limited, so bituminous coal, with 70 to 90% carbon, is the most widely used variety.
Why is natural gas called green energy?
Natural gas is considered an environment friendly fuel because of its low carbon dioxide emissions, so it is called green energy. It is also the cheapest source of energy. The USA has the largest reserves and is the leading producer, while India is the 28th producer.
What is special about the Kamuthi solar power plant?
Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district is the world's largest single solar power plant. The photovoltaic station spreads over 2,500 acres, has a capacity of 648 MW at one location, was completed on 21 September 2016 and its panels are cleaned daily by a robotic system.
Where is geothermal energy found in India?
Exploration started in 1970 and the GSI has identified 350 geothermal locations. The most promising is the Puga valley of Ladakh. India's estimated geothermal potential is about 10000 MW, spread over seven provinces including the Himalayas, Cambay, SONATA, Godavari and Mahanadi.
Last updated 19 October 2026