Resources From Non-Living Things JSS3 Basic Science Lesson Note

Minerals are naturally occurring substances in the soil. Such minerals are natural endowments to particular communities. The mineral resources may exist in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms. Examples of mineral resources are petroleum, limestone, gold, coal, etc. Examples of solid minerals in Nigeria are gold, limestone, coal, tin ore, columbite, iron ore, diamond e.t.c.These solid minerals cannot be used in the form in which they are found when they are dug out of the soil. They need to be refined by a process of refining which usually takes place in factories.

Characteristics of solid minerals

-Diamond is lustrous and is the hardest solid mineral.

-Gold is lustrous when refined

-Coal ore is black

-Marble is milky

-Iron is grey/brown.

Importance of solid minerals

–Iron is used in the construction of bridges and buildings.

-Iron is used for making farm implements.

-Iron can be used for making various motor parts.

-Gold, silver, and diamond are used in making jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, medals, and trophies.

-The wealth of a nation in foreign reserve can be quantified in gold value.

Uses of coal

-It is used for cooking

-It is in making materials like chemicals, paints, and dyes.

-It is used to generate energy used to move trains or generate electricity

Clay

-It is used in pottery industries for making plates, jugs, and mugs.

-Combination of clay with limestone can be used for making chalk and cement.

Limestone

-It is the major material in cement making.

-It is used in the hospital as plaster of Paris to straighten an injury to the bone.

More Importance

-For employment opportunities

-For industrial development

-For agricultural development

-For transportation development

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Which of these solid minerals is used  in the  pottery industries?  A. silver   B.clay  C.diamond  D.coal
2. Which of the following  solid minerals is a major material that is used for the manufacture of cement ?  A. coal  B limestone  C.gold  D, silver
3. Where is coal found  in large quantities in  Nigeria?  A. Ibadan    B.Jos  C.Kano  D. Enugu
4. What is the characteristic color of coal?  A. black  B. green  C. grey   D. Brown
5. Which of the following is not a solid mineral?  A. Zinc   B. Aluminium  C.Petroleum  D.Silver
6. Major mineral resources in Kebbi are A. gold  B.coal  C.salt  D.iron
7. Solid minerals are used for the following except   A. fertile  B.manufacture of  agricultural tools  C.emploment generation  D.unrest
8. Which part of  Nigeria is rich in Petroleum resources  A. Ogun  B.Oyo State  C.Niger-  Delt  D.  Kano  State
9. Mention three importance of  minerals in Nigeria
10. Mention three natural resources in Nigeria

Solid minerals such as limestone are found in Ewekoro in Ogun state and Nkalagu in Ebonyi state, gold in Ilesha, Osun state; Tin and columbite in Jos, plateau state and coal in Enugu, Enugu state.