Resources
📚 Topic Overview: Resources (Production, Exchange and Livelihoods)
This lesson explains the idea of resources and how they support production, exchange activities and livelihoods across regions.
Learners will understand what a resource is, how resources are classified, the major types found in India and the world, their uses, and the importance of conservation.
The lesson also highlights mineral and power resources, extraction processes, distribution patterns, and includes a dedicated Andhra Pradesh resource profile.
1. Resources – Meaning and Categorising
Concept / Theory
A resource is anything that becomes useful to people due to its utility, availability and human knowledge. Something becomes a resource only when humans know how to use it effectively.
Examples include air, water, soil, minerals, forests, roads, machines and human skills.
Natural and Human-Made – Main Categories
🔵 Natural Resources
These occur naturally in the environment. They can be classified into the following sub-types:
| Sub-Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Biotic | From living organisms | Forests, fish, animals |
| Abiotic | From non-living sources | Minerals, water, air |
| Renewable | Can be replenished naturally | Solar, wind, water |
| Non-renewable | Form slowly; may exhaust | Coal, petroleum |
| Ownership | Individual / community / national / international | Farm land, village tank, national parks |
| Development Level | Potential, developed, stock, reserves | Untapped hydel sites, working coal mine |
🟢 Human-Made Resources
Created by humans using natural resources and technology.
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Systems that support activities | Roads, railways, ports |
| Technology | Tools and machines | Tractors, computers, engines |
| Social Resources | Institutions built by people | Schools, hospitals, markets |
Analogy / Examples
- A river is natural; a dam is human-made. Together they form a powerful resource system.
- Soil is natural; manure and fertiliser are human-made inputs that improve soil productivity.
🧠 Keywords
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Resource | Anything useful with human knowledge |
| Natural Resource | Comes from nature |
| Human-Made Resource | Created by humans using natural materials |
| Renewable | Can be replenished naturally |
| Non-renewable | Limited; takes long to form |
Global & Indian Availability
- Coal is majorly found in China, USA, India, Russia, Australia.
- Petroleum mainly in West Asia, Russia, USA, offshore regions.
- Iron ore in Australia, Brazil, China, India.
- India has vast resources in the Chota Nagpur Plateau and coastal belts.
🔍 Real-Life Application:
Coastal villages use natural sea resources (fish) along with human-made boats, nets and harbours for livelihoods.
Coastal villages use natural sea resources (fish) along with human-made boats, nets and harbours for livelihoods.
📝 Exam Tip:
If asked “Which is not natural?”, remove human-made items like dams, machines and roads.
If asked “Which is not natural?”, remove human-made items like dams, machines and roads.
🔍 Real-Life Application:
A village tank becomes a resource only when people maintain bunds, remove silt and use water wisely. Human action decides utility.
A village tank becomes a resource only when people maintain bunds, remove silt and use water wisely. Human action decides utility.
📝 Exam Tip:
If a question shows “air, road, teacher”, classify: air → natural, road → human-made, teacher → human resource.
If a question shows “air, road, teacher”, classify: air → natural, road → human-made, teacher → human resource.
2. Conservation – Importance, Pros & Cons
Concept / Theory
Conservation means careful and wise use of resources so that they last long and remain useful for future generations.
Why Conservation Matters
- Prevents exhaustion of non-renewable resources.
- Reduces pollution and environmental damage.
- Supports stable livelihoods.
- Reduces cost and conflicts over scarce resources.
Pros of Conservation
| Time | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Present | Clean environment, reduced waste, stable supply |
| Future | Resources available for next generations |
Cons of Non-Conservation
- Loss of forests, soil and water quality.
- Increased disasters like droughts and floods.
- Scarcity of minerals and fuels.
🔍 Real-Life Application:
Farmers practising crop rotation and controlled irrigation conserve soil and water and get better yields.
Farmers practising crop rotation and controlled irrigation conserve soil and water and get better yields.
📝 Exam Tip:
Identify keywords like “overuse”, “wastage”, “pollution” → these point to non-conservation.
Identify keywords like “overuse”, “wastage”, “pollution” → these point to non-conservation.
3. Mineral & Power Resources – Types & Uses
Minerals – Types
| Category | Type | Examples | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metallic | Ferrous | Iron ore, manganese | Steel making |
| Non-ferrous | Copper, bauxite | Electricals, aircraft | |
| Non-metallic | – | Limestone, gypsum, mica | Cement, fertiliser, insulation |
Power Resources
| Type | Examples | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Coal, petroleum, natural gas | Traditional, mostly non-renewable |
| Non-conventional | Solar, wind, tidal, biogas | Renewable and cleaner |
🔍 Real-Life Application:
A cement factory uses limestone and coal; both are mineral-based resources essential for industry.
A cement factory uses limestone and coal; both are mineral-based resources essential for industry.
📝 Exam Tip:
Metallic minerals contain metals; non-metallic do not. Quick identification saves time.
Metallic minerals contain metals; non-metallic do not. Quick identification saves time.
4. Extraction & Distribution of Minerals
Extraction – Simple Stages
- Exploration and survey
- Mining (open-cast / underground / drilling)
- Processing and refining
- Transport via road, rail, pipeline, ship
- Distribution to industries and markets
Machinery Used
- Excavators, bulldozers, dumpers
- Conveyor belts, lifts (underground mines)
- Oil rigs (petroleum)
- Crushers and washers (processing)
Trade & Distribution
Minerals are transported from mines to factories and ports. Some are exported; some imported depending on needs.
Basic Laws (Simple School-Level Understanding)
- Mines & Minerals Act – manages leases and permissions
- Mines Act – safety standards for workers
- Environmental rules – ensure responsible mining
🔍 Real-Life Application:
Coal moves from mines to power plants using railway wagons to generate electricity for homes and industries.
Coal moves from mines to power plants using railway wagons to generate electricity for homes and industries.
📝 Exam Tip:
The moment you see “worker safety in mines”, think of the Mines Act.
The moment you see “worker safety in mines”, think of the Mines Act.
5. Conventional & Non-Conventional Energy
Comparison Table
| Feature | Conventional | Non-Conventional |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Coal, petroleum | Solar, wind, tidal |
| Renewability | Often non-renewable | Renewable |
| Pollution | High | Low |
| Initial Cost | Moderate | High |
🔍 Real-Life Application:
Rooftop solar panels reduce dependence on coal-based electricity.
Rooftop solar panels reduce dependence on coal-based electricity.
📝 Exam Tip:
Anything based on sun, wind, water movement is usually non-conventional.
Anything based on sun, wind, water movement is usually non-conventional.
7. Resources Mapping National, & International)
Natural Resources – Types & Uses
This section covers water, oil, natural gas, soils/land types, minerals and their mapping at district, national and global levels—all combined under natural resources.
🌊 Water Resources – Mapping
| Region | Major Water Resources | Notes / Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh |
Krishna River (Krishna, NTR, Guntur districts) Godavari River (East & West Godavari) Vamsadhara (Srikakulam) Nagavali (Srikakulam & Parvathipuram Manyam) Penna (Kadapa, Anantapur, Nellore) Tanks & Reservoirs: Pulichintala, Srisailam canals, Dowleswaram Barrage |
Irrigation, drinking water, aquaculture, power projects |
| India |
Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra (North & East India) Narmada, Tapti (Central India) Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery (South India) |
Major river basins supporting agriculture & industries |
| International | Nile (Africa), Amazon (South America), Yangtze (China), Mississippi (USA) | Largest freshwater systems globally for transport, farming, power |
⛽ Oil & Natural Gas – Mapping
| Region | Main Fields / Basins | Notes / Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh |
Krishna–Godavari Basin (offshore & onshore) Ravva Oil Field (East Godavari) KG-D6 Gas Block (seaward region) |
One of India’s major natural gas producing zones |
| India |
Mumbai High (Maharashtra) Cambay Basin (Gujarat) Assam Oil Fields (Digboi, Duliajan) Rajasthan Barmer Fields |
Backbone of Indian petroleum & gas supply |
| International |
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait (West Asia) USA (Texas, Alaska), Russia (Siberia) North Sea (UK, Norway) |
World’s largest crude oil producing regions |
🌱 Types of Land / Soil – District Mapping
| Region | Soil / Land Type | Districts / Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh |
Alluvial Soil Black Cotton Soil Red Soil Laterite Soil |
Alluvial: Godavari & Krishna deltas (Krishna, Guntur, East/West Godavari) Black Soil: Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa Red Soil: Nellore, Tirupati, Vizianagaram Laterite: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam (hills) |
| India | Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite, Desert, Mountain Soils |
Black: Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat Desert: Rajasthan Mountain: Himalayan states |
| International |
Prairie Soils (USA/Canada) Loess (China) Tundra Soil (Russia/Arctic) |
Support wheat belts, rice belts, cold-climate vegetation |
⛰ Minerals – District, National & International Mapping
| Region | Mineral | Major Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Bauxite | Eastern Ghats (Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju) |
| Barytes | Kadapa (Mangampeta) – one of world’s largest deposits | |
| Limestone | Kurnool, Kadapa, Guntur, Krishna | |
| Mica | Nellore belt | |
| Quartz / Silica Sand | Prakasam, Nellore | |
| India | Iron Ore | Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh |
| Coal | Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal | |
| Bauxite | Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra | |
| Mica | Jharkhand, Bihar | |
| International | Iron Ore | Australia, Brazil, China |
| Coal | China, USA, Australia, Russia | |
| Bauxite | Australia, Guinea, Brazil | |
| Copper | Chile (world’s largest), Peru, USA |
Human-Made Resources – Quick Mapping
| Region | Key Human-Made Resources |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Ports, Canals, Roads, Industrial Corridors, SEZs |
| India | Metros, Highways, Dams, Refineries, Industrial Zones |
| International | Suez Canal, Panama Canal, High-tech hubs (Japan, USA, Germany) |
🔍 Real-Life Application:
A cement plant in Guntur district depends on limestone from local quarries, electricity from power stations, and roads for transport—showing how natural and human-made resources combine to support livelihoods.
A cement plant in Guntur district depends on limestone from local quarries, electricity from power stations, and roads for transport—showing how natural and human-made resources combine to support livelihoods.
📝 Exam Tip:
For mapping questions, link: Resource → District/State → Use.
Example: “Barytes → Kadapa → Used in drilling and petroleum industry.”
For mapping questions, link: Resource → District/State → Use.
Example: “Barytes → Kadapa → Used in drilling and petroleum industry.”
8. Exam Tips & Quick Memory Sheet
Quick Memory Sheet
| Concept | Memory Line |
|---|---|
| Resource | Useful + accessible + acceptable |
| Main Categories | Natural vs Human-Made |
| Natural Sub-types | Biotic, Abiotic, Renewable, Non-renewable |
| Mineral Types | Metallic & Non-metallic |
| Energy Types | Conventional vs Non-conventional |
📝 Final Tip:
Revise comparison tables and classification keywords first—they answer most questions instantly.
Revise comparison tables and classification keywords first—they answer most questions instantly.