Handout 1-Types of Natural Resources
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Pareesay HayaHandout 1-Types of Natural Resources
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Pareesay HayaGeography: Class 6
The City School
Topic: Natural Resources
Handout 1 Subtopic: Types of Natural Resources
Name: _____________________________ Class: ____________________________________
Learning Objectives:
1.3.1: Define natural resources
1.3.2: Identify the types of natural resources; non-renewable and renewable natural resources
Natural resources refer to the materials or substances that occur naturally in the environment and are
valuable to humans for various purposes. These resources can be categorized into two main types: renewable
and non-renewable.
Renewable Resources: Renewable resources are those resources that continue to exist despite being
consumed or can replenish themselves over a period even as they are used. They include the sun, wind,
water, geothermal, and biomass. The disadvantage of renewable resources is that they may not be available
for use when needed. For example, the ability to collect and use solar energy is limited at night and when the
sky is overcast. The continued availability of water depends on ongoing precipitation and weather conditions.
Renewable resources are considered to have less of a negative impact on the environment. Examples include:
Water: Rivers, lakes, and groundwater are renewable sources of freshwater.
Forests: Trees and vegetation provide timber, fuelwood, and other forest products.
Wind and Solar Energy: These sources of energy are constantly replenished by natural processes.
Agricultural Crops: Crops such as grains, fruits, and vegetables are renewable resources.
Wildlife: Animals and fish populations that can reproduce and replenish themselves.
Non-Renewable Resources: Non-renewable resources are those resources that are considered finite due to
the extremely long time it takes for nature to create them. Once depleted, they become unavailable. They
include coal, natural gas, and oil. The advantage of non-renewable resources is that they're readily available
now and the infrastructure for their use exists to produce power on demand. However, they have a greater
negative environmental impact than renewable resources. The heat trapped by carbon dioxide gas when coal
and oil are burned contributes to the atmosphere's rising temperature and global climate change. Activists,
consumers, and government leaders promote renewable energy as a way to generate needed power without
the emissions that are warming the planet and threatening life on earth. Examples include:
Fossil Fuels: Coal, oil, and natural gas are formed over millions of years from organic matter and are
used for energy production.
The City School Academics
Geography: Class 6
The City School
Minerals: Resources such as iron, copper, gold, and uranium are mined for various industrial
applications.
Fossilized Organic Materials: Resources like coal, peat, and natural gas are derived from ancient
organic matter.
Non-renewable Energy Sources: Nuclear power is generated from non-renewable uranium, while
geothermal energy relies on finite heat from the Earth's core.
Natural resources play a crucial role in supporting human needs and economic development. They are
utilized in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, energy production, and manufacturing. However,
the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources are vital to ensure their availability for
future generations.
Most Important Natural Resources:
Air: Clean air is important for all the plants, animals and humans to survive on this planet. So, it is necessary
to take measures to reduce air pollution.
Water: 70% of the Earth is covered in water and only 2 % of that is freshwater. Initiative to educate and
regulate the use of water should be taken.
Soil: Soil is composed of various particles and nutrients. It helps plants grow.
Iron: It is found as mineral silica and is used to build strong weapons, transportation and buildings
Forests: Forests provide clean air and preserve the ecology of the world. Trees are being cut for housing and
construction projects
Distribution of Natural Resources: The uneven distribution of natural resources across the Earth is due
largely to past geological processes such as plate tectonics and volcanic activity. For example, the abundance
of petroleum in the Middle East resulted from tectonic plate movement. Over millions of years, shifting plates
“trapped” vast amounts of decayed organic matter in deep basins in the Persian Gulf. Some of the world’s
most fertile soils are found near ancient and active volcanoes, where they formed through the weathering of
volcanic rock. Most metal ore deposits formed around magma deep within ancient volcanoes over
subduction zones.
Renewable resource Non-renewable resource
It can be renewed as it is available in infinite Once completely consumed, it cannot be renewed due to
quantity limited stock
Sustainable in nature Exhaustible in nature
Low cost and environment-friendly High cost and less environment-friendly
Replenish quickly Replenish slowly or do not replenish naturally at all
