Q1.
Do you know how rocks and minerals are transported from one location to another?
Answer
Yes — mostly by trucks, goods trains and ships, and nearly all of them run on fossil fuels.
| Means of transport | What it carries | Fuel used |
|---|---|---|
| Trucks and dumpers | Stone, sand, marble blocks from the quarry to the road head | Diesel |
| Goods trains (rakes) | Coal and iron ore over long distances — Jharia to steel plants, Bailadila to Visakhapatnam | Diesel or electricity |
| Ships and barges | Iron ore and coal to and from ports such as Paradip, Visakhapatnam and Mormugao | Diesel / furnace oil |
| Conveyor belts and ropeways | Ore from the mine to a nearby plant | Electricity |
| Pipelines | Petroleum and natural gas, and ore mixed with water (slurry) | Electric pumps |
Why the book asks this here: it is the bridge to the next section. Most vehicles we use for transportation run on fossil fuels — so even a truckload of stone costs us some coal or petroleum. Two natural resources are being used, not one.