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9 Resources of India
Soil and Minerals

Soil-use and types Conservation of soil
Minerals and their uses Important minerals found in India

Conservation of minerals

Rocks are hard soil materials that form the upper layer

of the Earth. The rocks are composed of one or more
minerals. Soil is formed by the breaking down of rocks.

Saplings grow in soil. Thus, rocks on the Earth’s surface
not only provide us with minerals, but also with soil.

You know that soil is necessary for plants to grow, and
both humans and animals depend on soil for food.

Soil Resources

Soil is the top layer of the Earth’s surface. We grow plants and crop in the soil. The
rocks are broken into tiny pieces by the action of the Sun, wind and water.

These smaller pieces of rocks are further broken down by rain, rivers and wind.

They are carried by wind and water from one place to another. It takes many-many
years for a rock to turn into soil. As rocks contain minerals, the soil formed out of

these rocks too contains the minerals.

Types of Soil in India

There are different types of soils present all over India. Therefore, different types
of soil are found in our country.

Alluvial Soil: You have read that the rivers that originate in
the Himalayas flow down to the plains. They carry soil and

small pieces of rocks and deposit them in the plains. The soil
formed this way is called alluvial soil. It is found in the plains

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