CHAPTER
II
ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF MINERAL RESOURCES
2.1
Introductory
Until recently,
the economist had
categorised
"underdevelop­
ment and development of a particular country in terms of availability
of resources. William Arthur Lewis asserts that the level and pattern
of
development
resources.
of
a
country
is
after all limited
by
its
natural
"Natural resources determine the course of development and
constitute the challenge which may or may not be acceptable
human mind."^
Jacob
Viner
by the
in his own terminology described natural
resources as factor of production and said — "an unfavourable physical
environment can be a major obstacle to development.
.,2
But with the advances in technology and growth of economy the
relative importance of natural resources tends to decline.
"The existence of rich resources is not a sufficient condition
,.3
for developed industry nor even a necessary ore. But it helps.”
The
entire economy of Japan Is based
has
on
imported
ore.
The
country
showed that by improving the technology, a sound industrial base can be
started without Its own ore. Deficiency of ore can be compensated by
advanced
technology
in
better
1. Lewis, W.A. — The Theory
(London 1955), p. 2.
of
recovery
Economic
from
Growth.
crude
Allen
form,
and
by
Unwin
2. Viner Jacob — Economics of Development in A.N. Agarwal and S.P.
Singh's edited book "Economics of Underdevelopment
as cited by
Mishra & Puri in Indian Economy. Himalaya Publishing House (Bombay,
1991), p. 24.
3. Kindleberger, P. Charles —
Book Company, Inc. p. 73.
"Economic Development",
McGraw
Hills
14
substitution and recycling of the scrap. Moreover access to remote and
new sources has been possible only due to cheap transport facilities
of Japan.
Mineral
resources are amongst
the
most
important
natural
resources that dictate the Industrial and economic development of a
country because they provide raw materials to the primary,
secondary
and tertiary sectors of the economy.
The use of mineral is as old as civilisation. Minerals provide
the
basic
needs —
food,
clothing,
shelter
and
energy
to
mankind.
"Minerals are indispensable to man. The food he eats, the clothes he
wears, nay even his own body are all constituted a variety of minerals
and or of their salts."^
*
Our present material civilization has been brought to a large
extent by the knowledge and application of metals and minerals.
minerals
are
the
industry is based.
basis
of
machinery
For
on which modern manufacturing
"Minerals and metals form the life blood of the
world's present day civilization.
2.2
A.B.C. of Mineral Resources
The natural resources in which the metals or their components
are
found,
are
called
minerals.
Mineral
is
described
as
nature’s
chemical.
4. Krishnaswamy, S. — India's Mineral Resources Oxford, IBH Publishing
Company (New Delhi,1972), p. 1.
5. Wadia Mrs. D.N. — Minerals of India (Edi) by Dr. D.N. Wadia F.R.S.,
National Book Trust of India (New Delhi, 1966), p.VII.
15
Geologically,
"Minerals are inorganic
one or more elements.
usually crystalline
substances made
up
of
They have a definite chemical composition and
structure."^ According
to Lheir
organic
origin,
coal and petroleum are not mineral resources in the strictest sense of
the term.
But clue to Lheir geological
mineral kingdom have been accepted.
'fossil fuel'.
formation,
their entry to the
They are known as
'mineral*
or
Water is a mineral because It has definite chemical
composition.
Minerals
are
not
only
planetary bodies like the Moon,
found
in earth's
crust,
but
also
in
the Mars and meteorites. Out of sixty
earthly identical minerals are brought back from the Moon, only three
or so are new. Economic minerals (i.e. minerals used by men) may be
metallic,
non-metallic and mineral or fossil fuel. Metallic minerals
occur in combinations with other elements which must be separated. The
non-metallic minerals can be used in their raw form.
gold,
sliver,
lead,
tin,
zinc, aluminium,
Iron,
platinum etc.
copper,
are metallic
minerals whereas clay, limestone, sand, salt, sulphur, phosphate rock
etc.
are
non-metallic
minerals.
Non-metallic
minerals
occur
in
abundance and available on a local level for local consumption. Thus
while
"metals are international commodities,
most
non-metals
rarely
enter into world trades, there are exceptions of course, — diamonds are
in this group.
6. Dey Dr. A.K. — Geology of India, National Book Trust of India, New
Delhi, 1968, p. 15.
(International
7. Encyclopaedia Americana
Baltimore, 1965, p. 15.
8. Mcdivitt, James F.
Baltimore, 1965, p . 15.
i
'Minerals
and
Edition)
Men',
John
Hopkins
Press
Hopkins
Press
16
2.3
Distinctive Features of Mineral Resources
Mineral resources are indispensable for the economic develop­
ment
of
a
country,
distinctive
But
as
characteristics
natural
and
resources,
related
they
problems
have
unique
certain
to
them.
Hence, ttiese characteristics have an important bearing in the utiliza­
tion of
these
resources
for the economic
development
of a country.
They are as follows :
Non-replenisi lability
By and
fundamental
large,
way
that
minerals
they
are
differ
from
other
non-repJonlshable.
resources
A mineral
in
one
deposit
that is truely exhausted, is beyond restoration. Mineral resources are
like 'one crop' commodity. For example, harvesting of coal, limestone
or iron ore leave
only holes
in
the
ground
for
the
use
of
future
generation.
There
Is no
second crop mineral.
Of course,
sometimes,
with
improved technology more can be reutilised. There is also an exception
to the rule, in case of limestone and mineral resources of the ocean
where manganese 'nodules'
resources are continuously formed.
9
Fixity of .location, quality and quantity
Mineral resources are fixed in location, fixed in quality and
fixed
in
comparison
quantity.
to
that
The
of
9.
resources.
of
populated
distribution is uneven.
in mineral
area
occurrence
cities
or
is
agricultural
No country in this world
Even the most
smaller
in
size
lands.
in
The
is self sufficient
industrialized
countries
of the
Hussain A.M.— The Economics and Economic Geology of the Mineral
Industries. All ied Publishers (Pvt.) Limited (New Delhi,1985),
'Nodules are potato shaped concretions. They are brown and black in
colour.'
17
world,U.S.A.
essential
and
USSR
minerals.
(presently C.I.S.)
India
is
also no
are
deficient
exception
to
the
in
many
rule.
Thus
minerals are mined at one places far beyond the ocean and international
boundaries, buyers are concerned only in regular supply of minerals in
time not with sources "It does not make difference whether his tin is
Malaysian
orBolivian,
his tungsten
Chinese
his
or
lead
Portugese
Yugoslavian
as
or
long
as
American
he
can
even
count
on
getting what he needs at right time."^
The minerals are the single largest commodity group (including
mineral fuel) moving in the international trade.
is one world, nation
"For minerals,
this
depends upon one another and this dependence
bring them closer together even though at times it sparks frictions.
Unpredicntnb.il1ty
From mine
explored,
mineral
discovered
occurrence
industry.
physical
factors.
to market
The
cost
properties
Sometimes,
and
Is
long
evaluated.
also
of
of
is a
one
of
process.
The
unpredictable
the
main
exploration increases
the
the
rocks containing
exploration
Minerals
along
the
results
to
be
character
of
problems
with
minerals
in
are
of
mineral
the
depth,
and
negative
other
manner
incurring heavy losses.
Demand for and supply of minerals
Demand for minerals is a derived demand. Hence, "production of
mineral
is
affected
by
the
changing
10. Mcdivitt, James F. op. cit., p. 148.
11. Ibid., p. Ir)4.
needs
of
the
manufacturing
18
industries, accumulation of stocks, fluctuation in price and re-use of
metallic scrap.
Technological
innovation
may change
the picture of existing
demand supply position of minerals. A glaring example is the change in
demand for highly concentrated beach sand of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The foreign countries have now developed technology to upgrade their
own low grade ore and then discontinued the import of monazite sand of
Kerala and Tamil Nadu for illmanite.
On the supply side,
similarly by using scrap , which is an
important source of many metals, the price level can be lowered down.
Now-a-days a large number of developed countries use scraps in place
of
metals
obtained
from
natural
resources.
The
blast
furnaces
of
Japan, Italy, Argentina and various other countries are the main scrap
users.
"On
the
average
45
tons
to
scrap
iron
are
used
in
the
production of 100 tons of steel in Japan* no other country uses such a
high proportion
of scrap iron in the steel production.
Though minerals have limitation in supply,
paradoxes of the mineral industry
,.13
it is one of the
that even if the ever
increasing
global population is using more minerals, more resources are available
for further use. This is possible due to improved technology and use
of
substitutes.
resources
President
Kennedy
"conservation of mineral
in
his
1962
resources
message
benefits
noted
from the
on
fact
12. Sinha R.K. & Sharma N.L. — Mineral Economics, Oxford & IBH
Publishing Co. Private Ltd., New Delhi, 1988, p. 11
13. Sadhukhan
S.K. — 'Economic Geography'
New Delhi, 1984, pp. 443,444.
S. Chand & Company Ltd.,
19
that
for
usuable
practical
volume
advances.
purposes,
and
We have
variety
learned
provisions of value or
they
of
are
not
minerals
to use a host
fixed
in
increase
quantity,
as
the
technology
of minerals which had
had value only in limited sense."
no
14
Trade in mineral is not similar to trade in other commodities
due to its differences in physical properties and chemical composition
of the same mineral. In this connection, mention may be made of Assam
and Bihar Coal.
There is an ever increasing global demand for minerals due to
higher standard of living, industrialisation and growth of population.
A mineral is a non-renewable asset. As Zimmerman has said "The
most disconcerning feature of minerals is their exhaustibility. They
are wasting assets.
They are completely consumed in use if they are
fuel, they are at least partially dissipitated, if they are minerals
other
than
fuels."
15
Therefore
the
resource
economists
are
much
concerned about the quantity of the present uses and future resources
of the minerals. Because "ours is a truely mineral civilization which
stands and falls on its capacity to produce staggering amounts of some
minerals and varying quantities of others.^
14. Mcdivitt. James F. Op.cit., p. 23.
15. Zimmerman Erich W. — World Resources and Industries, New York
Harper & Raw Publishers. Inc., 1933 (Revised 1951), p. 439
as cited by Mcdivitt, Op.cit., p. 5.
16. Ibid.
20
2.4
Contribution of Minerals to the Economy
The contribution of minerals in the overall development of an
economy
Is
immense.
people.
The
It
standard
productivity.
helps
of
bare
In underdeveloped
necessities
literacy,
diseases,
Generally
in
living implies
home,
a
of
the
people
is
with
lower
countries,
life.
There
are
malnutrition, industrial
country,
refrigerator,
electric
measure
hardly
poverty,
famine,
backwardness
of
the
television^
and
a
host
etc.
meet
low
etc.
standard
of
with modern
telephone,
of
of
productivity
income associated
radio,
light,
a
They can
determinant
one's high per capita
computer,
standard of living of the
the people is low.
of
developed
automobile,
writer,
raising
living
the standard of living of
their
in
other
type­
modern
inventions.
But without mineral resources these modern appliances cannot
be manufactured.
These elements of high standard of living are not
available in all countries of the world. For it is only out of one’s
economic
productivity
that
economic
surpluses
can
be
availed.
Minerals extend versatility of a man’s hand with machinery,
man can
produce easily a lot of things in large scale within a short period of
time. The more a country is developed, the more is the consumption of
minerals. The total consumption
of minerals indicate the level of the
standard of living of the people. The developed countries have proved
this fact.
21
2.5
Minerals and Basic Necessities of Life
Food, clothing,
shelter and energy are the basic necessaries
of life. Minerals supply nutrient to food. Deficiency of these minerals
(i.e. iron, calcium, phosphorus etc.) causes several diseases in human
body.
It has an indirect
impact on the productivity of food supply
also.With the growth of population, world demand for food increases.
Hie
limited
and
tired
soil
cannot
cope with
the
demand
for
food.
Intensive cultivation has been gradually taking the place of extensive
cultivation.
"The concept of intensive farming is based on good soil,
availability
of fertilisers,
pesticides,
agricultural machinery
and
fuels to propel machines and all these are mostly mineral products.
True
molecules.
synthetic
Coal
was
fibres
are
initially
superseded by petroleum.
produced
more
water
resistant,
important
coal
but
has
or
petroleum
been
almost
Synthetic fibres are replacing the natural
fibres due to its versatile quality.
and
from
durable,
They are more crease,
elastic
and
easily
shrink
laundered
than
natural fibre.
Since
prehistoric
age,
the mother
earth has
been
providing
various mineral — , copper, zinc, lead, aluminium, tungsten and perhaps
alloy
containing nickel, molybdenum chromium, clay, stone to build a
shelter. The roof of the house may be tin, asbestos or concrete. The
windows
or doors may
machineries
made
be
iron
and
from minerals.
wooden
In
which
might
the windowpanes —
be
the
shaped
by
glass
is
fixed. For the manufacture of glass again sodalime, quartz and various
metals are required.
For the interior decoration walls may be white-
17. Hussain, A.M., Op.cit., p. 7.
22
washed, or painted with paints made of minerals. The floor may be made
of marble, mosaic and cement concrete which are also mineral products.
Such a house cannot run without electricity for power,
which may be
again a product of fossil fuel. For the water, it may be either piped
water from municipality or digging a tube well or well. These pipes,
tube well, rings of the well are all mineral products. In the kitchen,
one has to cook his food with the help of either coal, kerosene,
LPG
or electricity.
In this way, it is clear that it is almost impossible to think
of any object used in every day life that does not contain minerals.
2.6
Minerals and Industrialisation
Mineral
development
is
the
core
of
industrial
revolution.
Hence, mineral development is synonymous with industrial development
of a country.
production
Demand
hinges
on
for
mineral
the
level
is
of
supply of minerals therefore largely
a
derived
industrial
one; so
activity.
that
their
Demand
and
follow the growth and pattern of
industrial development in a country.
Interrelationship between industrial development and mineral resources
A reciprocal relationship exists between industrial develop­
ment on the one hand and capital accumulation and mineral resources on
the
other.
brighter
industrial
momentum.
The
Is
the
greater
the
outlook
of
development
It is
degree
industrial
flourishes,
true that
of
capital
accumulation,
development.. Conversely
capital
the development
accumulation
of mineral
improve a country's chances in the industrial growth,
the
when
gathers
resources
can
it is equally
23
true that it is conditioned by the level of industrial development of
that country which requires the capital and minerals to carry on its
operation.
Though, the existence of rich resources is not necessary and
essential
for
the
development
of
industry
in
a
country
still
the
importance of mineral resources in the process of industrialisation
cannot be ruled out. In the absence of mineral resources in a country
the same shall have to be acquired from external sources in order to
industrialise a nation. The concept of development and the process of
industrialisation are so intimately linked that they are treated as
synonymous.
country.
"England
has
Industrial
centered
steam
production
century.”
18
considered
revolution— a series
power
by 400 per
Steam
been
—
enable
cent
power
was
over
Britain
the
as
of
possible
in
cost
to
first
the
first
saving
raise
half
England
of
developed
innovation
its
industrial
the
nineteenth
only
availability of her abundant coal resources. Since then,
due
to
the
uptil now,
most of the developed countries have raised the level of per capita
income through industrialisation.
Australia,
and
New
Zealand
are
Of course,
exception
countries like Denmark,
to
the
rule.
They
have
become relatively wealthy primarily through their agriculture export.
Industrialisation is always needed for economic development of
a backward economy.
"the economic
Economist like Colin Clark has pointed out that
growth
is
positively
co-related
with
the
number
18. Gillis Malcom, Perkins Dwight, H. Roemer Michael Snodgrass,
Donal R. Economics of Development "W.W. Nortan & Company
(New York, 1983), p. 538.
of
24
working population engaged in the secondary and tertiary sector. The
economic growth therefore entails the movement of resources from a low
productivity
sector
—
agriculture
to
a
high
productivity
sector-industry.*’19
The contribution of minerals to the primary
sector is though
not negligible, but its contribution to secondary nnd tertiary sector
is more noticeable.
Without
the help of metal or mineral products,
these two sectors are absolutely useless to do anything.
Urbanization and Industrial Development
Urbanization is also synonymous with industrialisation. Modern
large scale industry cannot develop unless it has an adequate social
and economic overheads.
cities
and
towns.
industrialisation.
in India'
The overheads are quite possible only in big
Urbanization
is
thus
both
cause
and
of
Prof. Kingsley Davis in a seminar on 'Urbanization
(held at Berkeley California), pointed
out
that
possible to have industrialisation without urbanization.
A mounting list of minerals
social overheads.
effects
is not
20
is required for the economic and
Those overheads are machines,
railway, typewriter,
it
printing-press, medicines,
ships,
automobiles,
network of highways,
railways, stations, post dockyard airport and what not.
19. Clark, C. — "The condition of Economic Progress the MacMillan &
Company Limited, London, 1957, pp. 496-97 as quoted by N.K. Singh
in his book Industrial Progress and Economic Growth", Classical
Publishing Company, New Delhi, 1902.
20. Kuchal, S.C. — The Industrial Economy of India, Chaitanya Publi­
shing House, University Road (Allahabad, 1966), p. 57.
25
Significance of mineral resources for industrial development
The significance of mineral resources for industrial develop­
ment is two fold. On the one hand,the country may produce and export
the raw materials to other countries. Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
export crude oil, Brazil, Spain, Australia and India export Iron ore;
the Chile, the Congo and the Northern Rodhesia export copper. On the
otherhand,
the
country
may
produce
industry.
By the latter method,
materials
for
the economic
raw materials
to feed
more value can be added
development
of
the
her
own
to the raw
concerned
countries.
Developing countries need an Increase in export earning in order to meet
their import of capital goods and debt servicing for foreign borrowing.
The
contribution
countries
consist
Is
of
quite
minerals
high.
for
Statistics
the
export
show
that
earnings
the
metal
of
and
these
fuel
of nearly some 45% of the total value of their imports
industrial countries.
to
21
Minerals and different types of industry
Here our industries fin the study) are mainly concerned with
manufacturing and processing industries.
several types —
These Industries may be of
(a) Handicraft manufacturing or industry,
hold or cottage industry,
Cb) House
(c) Workshop or community manufacturing and
(d)Factory industry. Minerals supply raw materials,
fuel,
energy to
all these types of industries in lesser or greater degrees.
Modern
industries
are mainly related with factory industry.
There may be again different types of manufacturing industries.
They
are light or heavy engineering, ship building, automobile, textile and
21. Hussain, A.M., Op.cit., p. 20.
26
chemical
etc.
mineral
A n y single i n d u s t r y cannot o perate w i t h o u t m e t a l or
products.
"The
sophisticated
world
of
today
result of the e n l a r g e d use
of minerals,
whether
for food,
coal,
n a t u r a l gas,
a n d a tomic
of
or
power
petroleum,
countless
aeroplanes,
other
necessities
The
factory
energy,
commodities
in
location
these
of
materials,
bulk
resources,
capital
humau
factors
indirectly
r elated
with
possession
the 'Mother'
coal.
It
like
s ources
automobiles,
l abour
more e f f i cient
at
upon
w ater
supply,
and
as
majority
the
some
of
the
t h ese
f actors
l abour
the
fac t o r s
of
growth
such
as
and
raw
market,
participation.
management
are
mineral
directly
and
or
and
mineral
Steel Industry.
The h i g h
c o u n tries
important
more
produces
supply,
g o v e rnment
availability
advanced
The
l a b o u r supply,
of
use s
m a c hinery,
a c heaper rate.
d e pend
(such
force,
of
minerals.
the w o r l d
Coal
is
is
mainly
described
as
of the industry. M o d e r n i n d u s t r y is b o r n a n d n o u r i s h e d on
is
flourishes.
the
It
m a n ufac t u r i n g
industrial
f e r tilizers
e n e r g y as
life
The classic exa m p l e is a n I r o n a n d
standar d o f l i v i n g of
to
as
the
22
larger
management
p a r t i c ipation)
due
and
manner
government
products.
e mploys
ind u s t r i e s
p o wer
the
system
b i gger
a
transportation,
Barring
he
largely
ships, m o d e r n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s and a host o f c h e m i c a l s w h i c h
are der i v e d f r o m the use of m i n e r a l s ."
inanimate
of
it
is
cheapest
supplies
industry.
the base.
22. Sinha, R.K.
& Sarma,
of
power
The
civilization.
machines ma k e
fo r m
as
iro n a n d
Iron
It
fuel
is
N.L.,
on
we l l
which
as
raw
steel is
makes steel,
the m a i n s t a y
Op.cit.,
p.
1.
the
steel
the
modern
materials
backbone
makes
fac t o r y
to
the
of m o d e r n
machines,
of all b a s i c industries.
27
There are other minerals
limestone,
clay, asbestos
industries.
Then,
there
like mica,
manganese,
which
also
comes
the
are
mineral
copper,
needed
fuel
lead,
for
like
zinc,
different
coal
(already
explained crude oil, natural gas which are of industrial importance
for
supply of inanimated energy to run the industries. Energy is a vital
infrastructure
for industrial and economic development.
key on development of mining,
of consumer
goods,
waste materials.
..23
cement,
irrigation,
steel,
"Energy is a
transportation,
domestic
appliances
production
recycling
of
Several industrial products can be made from same
mineral. As many as two thousand uses of limestone are known. Gypsum
can be used for manufacture of fertiliser, cement,
wall boards,
Plaster of
Paris,
paint and distemper and extraction of sulphur. Chemical
industries are mostly or partly based on minerals like sulphuric acid.
Use of sulphuric acid or sulphur is also regarded as a barometer to
measure the industrial growth of a nation. Now a days,chemical industry
is called the key industry, because no other industry processes such a
wide variety of articles as chemical industry.
"Indeed a staggering
number of 2000,000 plus articles are produced by the coal tar chemical
industry.
Petrochemical
Industries
Products) are producing plastics,
(industries
based
on
Petroleum
synthetic fibres as industrial raw
materials to help the manufacturing industries.
23. Sinha, C. & Sinha, J.Kr. —
Energy Development in India-Role,
sources, consumption and policy from Energy Development in India
(ed.) by V.S. Mahajan, Deep and Deep Publication (New Delhi, 1990),
p. 11.
24. Sndhukhnn, S.K. — Economic Geography, Op.elt., p. 367.
28
Man u f a c t u r i n g
stimulates
investment
m a n u fac t u r i n g
backward.
to
in
industries
in
to the cement
have
le a d i n g
sectors
the
linkage
of
in an
buildings,
bridges etc.
user
sector,
as
because
well.
effects—
Most
both
the g rowth of
limestone,
Industry or forward
investment
sand,
it
of
the
forward
'cement'
g ypsum
and
leads
etc.
to
If the a v a i l a b i l i t y of cement
industry
say c o n s t r u c t i o n
of
roads,
Minerals a n d A g r i c u l t u r e
The
an
a
other
exploitation
stimulates
2.7
is
The linkage can be b a c k w a r d , i f
investment
supply
industry
Importance
agra garian
national
of agriculture,
eco n o m y
income,
can
h ardly
be
Ln the economic, d e v e l o p m e n t
exaggerated.
livelihood, e x p ortable surplus,
It
supp l i e s
raw materials
of
food,
to agro
based industry.
Every
the
world
their
developed,
must
present
revolution
have
stage
prior
to
of
to
and
agriculture,
blade,
iron
cross
country
is as
v illage
underdeveloped
threshhold
development.
agri c u l t u r e
the
and
this
ind u s t r i a l
industrially d e v e l o p e d
minerals
developing
Even
there
r e v o lution
in
in the world.
old
farmer
as
used
The
wheels
were
utensils
Their
of
iron
only
tyre.
In household wore
mode
Most
of
of
was
the
transport
agriculture)
to
an
agricultural
—
the
relationship
plough,
In
the
fitted
first
b etween
primitive
with
iron
reaped the crops w i t h an
i.e.
the
the tools he used
of mineral
of
England
civilization.
tilled the soil with an iron-spade and
sickle.
(i.e.
count r i e s
products.
bullock
in
cart's
the field and
29
Minerals and Fertiliser
In modern agriculture, the role of mineral has both direct and
indirect impact. Modern agriculture is confronted with the problem of
low
soil-
fertility.
In the olden
time,
the farmer managed
it by
'rest cure' system. The plot of the land was kept Idle for some period
to regain the natural fertility.
was small,
suitable
land was plenty.
the world population
The application of same process is not
in modern agriculture.
growing aspiration for a better
food increases.
At that time,
With
the
growth
of
standard of living,
population
and
the demand for
"With this trend of growth of population the demand
for food grains would be 205 to 225 million tonnes by 2000 A.D. Only
solution lies in resorting to intensive farming for which in turn the
fertiliser
is
the most
indispensable factor."
25
Just as human body
needs various vitamins, minerals protein etc. for the healthy living,
in the same way plants too need certain elements for their growth.
Von
Leiblg
lu
1040, first
identified
the
necessity
of
minerals for the proper plant growth. Fertiliser plays an important
role in enriching soil with nutrients needed for bumper harvest. They
contribute about "45 per cent increase in crop production as compared
27 per cent by irrigation and 13 per cent by improved seeds. Experience
shows that using fertiliser properly, one can increase productivity by
about 50 per cent.
25. F.C.I.,
p. 13.
27
News- Vol.
14,
No.2, Dec.
1965,
Jan.,
1966,
New Delhi,
26. Guha, J.L. & Chattoraj, P.R. — "A New Approach to Economic
Geography" — A Study of Resources. The World Press Private Ltd.
1982, p. 539.
27. Naphade Dr. J.D. — How to increase Agricultural Productivity —
Fertilizer Digest, Vol. 14, No. 4, April-May, 1976, p. 15.
30
Minerals and Mechanisation of Agriculture
Mechanisation means use of machineries in agriculture in lieu
of human and animal power whenever and wherever possible.
production
and
per
capita
labour
productivity
in
By raising
agriculture,
mechanisation reduces cost and increases economic surplus of land. Use
of tractor for tilling the soil, thresher harvester combine, pumpsets
are
some of
West.
the machineries
Increasing
used
mechanisation
by the advanced countries
in the
in
labour
U.S.A.
helped
the
productivity to a great extent. "Whereas in 1830, in that country 320
man hours of labour were required to produce 100 bushels of wheat, in
1900 only 108 man hours were sufficient for the purpose. According to
the Russian Experts,
labour
productivity
on
farms
was
three
times
28
during 1960 as compared to the pre-revolution days.”
Most
of
the
machineries
products. Even the energy (i.e.
used
in
agriculture
fuel lubricant,
are
mineral
grease etc.) to run
these machineries are minerals or fossil fuel. Of course, hydel power
can replace the mineral fuel. But very few countries of the world are
using it as energy.
Minerals and Plasticulture
The use of plastic,
a petroleum product
water management in horticulture,
in agriculture
and
forestry, and other ares has been
termed as plasticulture. Some of the
major plasticulture application
are canaland reservoir linings to prevent seepage, losses, cap covers
for outdoor storage of food grains, nursery bags, green houses, low
28. Mishra, S.K.
&
Puri, V.K., Op.cit., p. 521.
31
tunnels, mulching to achieve controlled environment, drip Irrigation,
to
optimise
use
of
water,
plastic
crates
for
distribution
and
packaging of milk. Now-a-days plastic sachets are substituting milk
bottles.
The produce pre-packing in field is likely to offer one of the
largest
application
countries
of
polythene
film
in
packaging.
In
foreign
potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables are generally packed
in polythene bags. Polythene bags are ideal for packaging purposes due
to its
properties
like low moisture
transmission,
easy exchange of
oxygen and carbondioxide and freedom from odour.
In foreign countries
is
breakable
Moreover,
and
costlier,
such green houses
these films are substituting glass which
in
the
covered
construction of
with
polythene
'Green Houses'.
bags
have
easy
transportability without such difficulty.
In order to protect the roots of the plants the soil surface
is covered with compost leaves, saw dust etc. This process is known as
'Mulching'. In recent years, black polythene films in large quantities
are used to cover the soil surface.
Weeds
(which is a
big menace)
cannot grow under the plastic cover for lack of sunshine.
The cover
helps in retaining soil moisture and soil temperature at a very high
level.
In the dry areas, this type of moisture retension capacity of
the soil will be of great help for plant growth. Black polythene film
may help in plant propagation. The plants which are covered with the
film grow quickly.
In this way, vegetables and flower can be grown
32
within a definite period. In Japan, by using PVC films in agricultural
operations, the cultivators are coming out successful in producing in
advance
of
typhoon
which
frequents
the
country
with
devastating
results.
Polythene
film is
used
to
cover
the
stocks
of hay,
cattle
sheds and so on. Even readily available small packs of fertilizer are
done by films.
PVC
and
Polythene
pipes
are
most
extensively
used
in
the
foreign countries for carrying water from place to place. As plastic
pipes are light, flexible and available in long length, the installa­
tion and handling cost can be reduced
to a considerable extent.
India also,these pipes are used in agriculture, horticulture,
In
in tea
and coffee plantations for purposes of irrigation and carrying water
to desired places. Seedlings are transplanted in plastic nursery bags.
Plasticulture
is
popular
in
the
countries
where
petrochemical
industries are flourishing.
In this way, there exists potentialities for the plasticulture
to play a big role in overall development of a rural economy.
2.8
Minerals - Employment, Revenue and Foreign Exchange
Minerals
augment
a
great
source
of
income
directly
and
indirectly to an economy. In the early 4th century B.C. Kautilya, the
great Hindu exponent, referred in his "Arthasastra" —
source
of
Government."
treasury.
From
treasury
comes
the
"Mines are the
power
of
the
29
29. Unpublished Annual Report of the Assam Geology and Mining Service
Association, Guwahati, 1983, p.l.
33
Mineral resources are precious,
non-renewable and limited in
supply.Hence, every country acquires revenue (royalty, taxes, cess and
depleting allowances),
levied
on
the minerals
within
itB
political
boundaries. The richness of the Middle Bast countries is due to their
possession of crude oil.
Developing
exporting
their
Industries
resources
countries
minerals
spread
in
in
order
to
the
to
earn
a
lot
developed
developed
raise
the
of
countries
countries
speed
foreign
of
in
based
growth
exchange
crude
on
and
forms.
their
more
by
own
faster
national income.
The indirect benefits of mining industry are from its backward
and
forward
linkages.
With
these
linkages, it
creates
employment,
raises industrial and agricultural production, extends market leading
trade,
commerce,
transport
and
communication.
All
these
factors
generate employment and a laudable amount of income.
"Much of the sales income of the produce goes back into the
economy to pay local wages to purchase supplies and materials and in
some cases
it
returns
as new
funds
available
for additional local
investment.
2.9 Strategic Importances of Minerals
The
role of minerals in defence and modern warfare can hardly
be over exaggerated.
Food and clothing are essential in war but man
30. Hussain, A.M., Op.cit., p. 20
34
and materials
are more
important.
Without
minerals,
to manufacture
armaments, ammunitions and military materials are impossible.
the
olden
produce
war,
the
modern
most
war
and
can. be won by industrial
best
arms
and
military
countries who
materials.
Russell commented on impact of science on society —
Unlike
Bertrand
"It is to steel
and oil and Uranium not to martial order that modern nation must look
31
for victory in war.
In
the
early
4th
century
B.C.,
Kautilya
had
grasped
the
crucial role of minerals in building nation's power and prosperity. He
said "Mines are the sources of wealth. Armies can be raised oh the
wealth
and
the
(Arthasastra).
32
king
who
has
wealth
can
conquer
the
world"
He gave such prime importance to mineral development,
a state monopoly and created separate departments of mining.
his
saying
may
not
have
a
literal
meaning
yet
it
Though
implies
the
significance of minerals in national strength and self reliance of a
country.
The
largely
prosperity,
depend
availability
on
of
the
mineral
power
and
national
availability
resources
of
security
mineral
definitely
of
a
country
resources.
limits
and
The
profoundly
influences the course of modern international power politics.
Dr.
A.M.
Bateman
in an
address,
before
the
Indian
Science
Congress in 1954 said that "those who hold the purse strings of mineral
resources
hold
power and
those nations
endowed with varied mineral
resources become world's leading industrial countries
like
England,
31. Meadi Lensen and Alan M. DaLeman,Economic Mineral DeposiLs. John
Willey and Sons,1981, p. 3.
32. Unpublished report of Assam Geology & Mining Service Association,
1983, p. 1.
35
France, Germany,
the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R.
politically and militarily
„
,.33
strong ones.
Modern
war
is
truly
industrial.
Most
of
the
developed
countries of the world are either rich in mineral or consumed minerals
and
industrially
materials
due
to
stronger.
their
They
sound
modern nations, industrial
can manufacture
stronghold
power
of
countless
military
industrialisation.
and military
power march
For
together
Thus mineral resources play an important role in causing war.
U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.
Thus
(Now C.I.S.) have become world power because of
their mineral resources and industrialisation.
In contrast to these countries both India and Brazil possess
large
resources
of
high
grade
iron
yet
they
cannot
industrial supremacy primarily for lack of good quality
succeed
in
coking coal.
The Middle East has large oil resources yet cannot become world power
due to serious deficiency in important minerals
essential
for core
sector industries.
Petroleum
has
a
good
bearing
in
world
politics.
In
this
connection, Smti. Indira Gandhi, the late Prime Minister of India, in
her
address
at
the
Institute
of
Petroleum
Exploration
on
19th
December, 1981 said, "Oil is to modern industry, what blood is to our
own
bodies.
politically
economics
So
it
is
explosive
and
is
perhaps
item
leading
to
natural
influencing
all
kinds
that
world
of
it
should
politics
tension,
become
and
a
world
alliances
and
confrontations. We can regard oil merely as essential commodity,
but
33. Roy B.C. — Indian Mineral Resources, Industries and Economics, Cal.
Editions, India, 1973, p. 4.
36
always to keep In view of political sensitivity and the consequences
of any action connected with it."
34
The inequalities in possession of minerals among the nations
of the world have resulted in tension, war, conquest, purchase, barter
and theft.
Modern war is global. Supply of essential war materials must
always
be at a move.
Therefore,
mobility is the prime
strategy in
modern war. The mobility of transport on sea, air and ground will come
to a stop without mineral fuel.
Use
of newer
minerals
enters
the military armament world
with a great importance and difference. For example, before the World
War II, uranium was largely a waste material left after the extraction
of radium from its ores.
"One pound of uranium is equivalent
to the
35
energy of about 10 tons of coal or 1,500
is easy to see why uranium has
gallons of gasoline."
It
become so important as a source of
power. In 1945 by dropping atom bomb (made of uranium) on Nagasaki and
Hiroshima the military power of Japan was totally crushed, Napalm bomb
(made
of
petroleum
jelley)
exploded,
it
consumed
soldiers.
In this way,
wing of the developed
mineralmade
was
used
in Vietnam War.
oxygen
thus
group
of scientists are busy in their R & D
countries
creating
When the bomb
to invent
suffocation
newer
and
among
newer
type
the
of
bomb to win the war.
34. Jayaraman, V.P. in Nehru's Industrialization Vision and Growth of
Oil and Natural Gas in the book "Studies in Energy and Economic
Development led.) by V.S. Mahajan, Deep and Deep Publications, New
Delhi, 1991.
35. Mason Brian — Treasures Underground, Home Library Press, New York,
1960, p. 8.
37
A mineral economist can predict a war reasonably correctly by
studying
the
activities
of
the
home
and
foreign
countries
in
the
sphere of mineral exploitation and industrial product manufacture. The
outbreak of the Second World War was predicted by an American mineral
economist about
possible
to
Intelligence
seven years
predict
by
before
studying
requires deeper
it actually
the
took
activities
study of the mineral
place.
of
It was
Germany.
resources
in
War
the
enemy countries.
Today, every great world power assesses its mineral potential
mostly
from
the
poinL
defence. Stockpiles
of
view
of
military
strategy
and
internal
of deficit, strategic minerals should be built up
against the possible war.
In a sense,
modern warfare means
"War of
minerals, war by minerals and war for minerals.”
2.10 Mineral
and
Mineral
ILb evil effects
resources
become
asset
only to the extent
they are
explored and developed. Pollution and environmental damage come along
with exploration and development as well as in course of industrial
transformation of minerals into usable end products. Most dereliction
is the result of thoughtless, unscientific and uncontrolled extraction
of minerals. Derelict land Is so uselessly and badly damaged that it
is beyond the purse of average people to convert it into economically
usable property. Generally, industrial countries of Europe and mainly
the U.S.A. have more derelict land. But some developing countries like
Malaysia has also to face this problem.
turned
Lhousand
acres
of
alluvial
Tin industry in Malaysia has
soil
dangerous pools wiLh little vegetation.
Lo
piles
of
Lalling
and
38
As modern
industrial
civilization
is
based
on
mineral
and
mineral products — such dereliction is an unavoidable corollary. But
it cannot be accepted in totality.
Because,
the monetary gain of the
minerals explored due to dereliction is always lesser than that of the
harm caused by it to the society.
Mining and mineral extraction result in destruction of natural
topography,
forest and agricultural land.
and accident hazards.
avalanche buried
.,36
village."
It
There is ugliness,
health
"In the Aberfan disaster an unexpected tip heap
116 children in the school of South Wales Mining
destroyed
the
scenic
beauty
totally
damaging
the
tourist potential.
A large number of ancillary industries are set up near the pit
head
to recover the by-products of coal. All these Industries create
pollution. Due to ill-planned coal-mining, large scale changes are in
the habitat and landscape. Water flowing from coal dumps of mines and
coal washeries
from coal.
is acidic
and is contaminated with minerals leached
This water is injurious to human health,
aquatic,
flora
and fauna. In order to remove overburden and extract minerals or ores,
blasting is essential requiring use of various explosive materials. In
some cases, compressed air is also used for blasting.
Blasting causes
air-pollution, land slides, fire, roof and shaft accidents and sound
that disturbs the peace of wild life. There is atmospheric pollution
due
to
gas,
smoke
and
dust
particles.
Poisonous
gases,
in
the
underground mines like carbon-monoxide, methane } coke gas, ozone and
coni gas may damage health, property and vegetation.
36. Leong Goh Cheng & Gillian, C. Morgen —
Geography, Oxford University Press 1987, pp
Human and
469-470.
Economic
39
The oil and grease which are largely used in the mechanised
coal
pits
may
cause
pollution
to
atmosphere
and
water.
The
coal
workers suffer from chronic pulmonary illness, disability and death —
as a result of their occupational exposure to the mine dust which get
entry into
mining
mining
their lungs.These are
industry.
Similar
industries
disadvantages
can
also
be
hazards
in
a
removed
the pollution hazards
may
occur
different
more
way.
substantially
or
less
But
by
of
the coal
in
these
proper
other
serious
planning,
scientific mining and by giving due regards to norms and procedures
introduced by the Government
the mining
industry
should
for proper mining.
be
eco-planning
So the main motto of
(based
on
conservation)
instead of simple economic planning.
2.11
Conclusion
After analysing the general uses of minerals
for day
to day
domestic necessities and economic development of a country, we have to
come to the conclusion that today minerals affect every aspect of our
socio-economic life.
"Take away the minerals and humanity will rapidly
return to the stone age with its greatest concern of the depletion of
. . 37
the flint (also a mineral)."
37. Wolfe John, A. — Mineral Resources —
Hall, New York, 1984, p. 228.
A World Review,
Chapman &
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