Natural Resources
Overview, Definition
and
Classifications
By Prof M.L.Dora
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❑Natural resources are elements or materials that
occur naturally in the earth and are utilized by humans for
various purposes.
❑ These resources are necessary for sustaining life,
promoting economic activities, and providing the raw
materials for industries.
❑ Natural resources are the foundation of human civilization.
❑ Natural resources can be classified based on different criteria
such as their origin, renewability, and availability.
❑ They play a critical role in the functioning of ecosystems
and the development of economies.
❑ As such, natural resources can be used directly by
humans or transformed into goods and services
through technological processes.
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Classification of Natural
Resources
❑ Natural resources are typically
two broad
classified into
categories:
❑1. Renewable
❑2.Non-renewable resources.
❑ However, there are also
subcategories based on other
characteristics,
❑ such as whether the resource is
biotic or abiotic.
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Renewable Resources
Examples
• Renewable resources
are resources that can be
replenished naturally on a human timescale.
• They are considered sustainable if managed wisely
because they can be renewed over time, overused or
depleted if not managed properly, leading to the risk of
resource depletion.
• These resources are constantly being regenerated and
are generally considered inexhaustible in the short term.
• Examples of Renewable Resources:
• Solar Energy: Solar energy is derived from the sun and
is the most abundant renewable energy source.
• Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, and as
inexhaustible, it provides a long-term solution for
energy needs. 4
Wind Energy: Wind energy is harnessed
through wind turbines to generate electricity.
❑ The wind is a renewable resource because it
is constantly in motion due to the Earth's
rotation and atmospheric conditions.
Water (Hydropower): Water resources, such as
rivers and lakes, are continuously replenished Wind Energy
through the water cycle.
❑ Hydropower, the use of flowing water to
generate electricity, is a key renewable
resource.
❑ However, the sustainability of water
resources depends on regional rainfall
patterns and human usage.
Hydropower 5
Biomass Biomass
❑ Biomass refers to organic materials derived
from plants, animals, and other living
organisms, such as wood, agricultural crops,
and animal waste.
❑ These materials can be converted into
biofuels or used for energy production.
❑ Biomass is renewable as long as the rate of
harvesting does not exceed the rate of natural
replenishment.
❑ Geothermal Energy: This form of energy
comes from the Earth's internal heat, sourced
from beneath the Earth's crust.
❑ Geothermal power plants harness this heat to
generate electricity, and it is considered
renewable as long as the geothermal reservoirs
are properly managed.
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Challenges with Renewable Resources
❑ Overuse: Even renewable resources
can be depleted if used at a rate faster
than their regeneration.
❑ For example, overfishing depletes fish
populations, and deforestation
reduces forest cover.
Seasonal Variability: Some renewable
resources like wind or solar energy are
not available at all times, depending on
weather conditions.
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Better management of Renewable Resources
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2. Non-Renewable Resources
❑ Non-renewable resources are
finite in nature, meaning they
cannot be replenished on a human
timescale once they are depleted.
❑ These resources are typically
formed over millions of years
through geological processes,
and once extracted and used, they Nuclear Fuels
cannot be recreated. •Uranium and Thorium: These are the
primary fuels used in nuclear reactors to
generate electricity.
❑ The overuse or mismanagement
of non-renewable resources poses •They are considered non-renewable
a significant challenge to long-term because once they are used in a reactor,
they cannot be replenished on a human
sustainability. timescale. 9
Examples of Non-Renewable Resources
Fossil Fuels:
Coal: A combustible black rock formed from plant
material over millions of years.
Coal is used for electricity generation and in industries
like steel production.
Oil (Petroleum): Oil is a crucial energy source used for
transportation, heating, and electricity generation.
It is also a raw material for petrochemical products such
as plastics.
Natural Gas: A fossil fuel used for electricity generation,
heating, and as a raw material for chemicals.
While natural gas is often seen as cleaner than coal and
oil, it is still a non-renewable resource. 10
Key Characteristics of Non-Renewable Resources
1.Finite Supply: Non-renewable resources exist in limited
quantities and are not easily replenished.
For example, fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas take millions
of years to form, and human use exceeds their natural formation
rate.
2. Exhaustible: Once non-renewable resources are extracted and
used, they cannot be restored or replaced by natural processes
within a human lifetime.
3. Extraction and Consumption: Non-renewable resources are
extracted through mining, drilling, or other methods, and their
use often leads to environmental degradation, such as habitat
destruction, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Take millions of years to develop
5. Exist in different states of matter: Non-renewable resources
can be found in solids, liquids, or gases. 11
Mineral
• Mineral, naturally occurring homogeneous solid with a definite
chemical composition and a highly ordered atomic arrangement.
• It is usually formed by inorganic processes.
• There are several thousand known mineral species,
• About 100 of which constitute the major mineral components of
rocks; these are the so-called rock-forming minerals.
• Mineral are classified as Major, Minor and Traces.
• Metallic and Non-metallic
• Economic, Industrial, Critical and strategic
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Occurrence and Formation
❑ Minerals form in all geologic environments and thus
under a wide range of chemical and physical conditions,
such as varying temperature and pressure.
❑ The four main categories of mineral formation are:
❑ (1) igneous, or magmatic, in which minerals crystallize
from a melt,
❑ (2) sedimentary, in which minerals are the result of
sedimentation, a process whose raw materials are
particles from other rocks that have undergone
weathering or erosion,
❑ (3) metamorphic, in which new minerals form at the
expense of earlier ones owing to the effects of
changing—usually increasing—temperature or
pressure or both on some existing rock type,
❑ (4) hydrothermal, in which minerals are chemically
precipitated from hot solutions within Earth.
❑The first three processes generally lead to
varieties of rocks in which different mineral
grains are closely intergrown in an interlocking
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fabric.
Non-Metallic Minerals
• Examples:
• Salt: Used for food preservation and in industrial processes.
• Limestone: Used in construction (e.g., as a building material and
in cement production).
• Gypsum: Used in the production of plaster and drywall.
• Environmental Concerns: While non-metallic mineral extraction is
generally less harmful than metallic mining, it still can cause
environmental issues such as habitat destruction, groundwater
depletion, and air pollution from dust.
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Metals:
❖ Typically, solid at room temperature (except mercury).
❖ Exhibit luster (shine).
❖ Good conductors of heat and electricity.
❖ Malleable and ductile.
❖ Sonorous.
❖ Examples: Aluminum (Al), Copper (Cu),
Non-metals:
❖ May be solid, liquid, or gas at room temperature.
❖ Generally, lack luster.
❖ Poor conductors of heat and electricity.
❖ Brittle when solid and not malleable.
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Challenges with Non-Renewable Resources
Over-exploitation can lead to resource depletion,
causing energy shortage and economic instability.
Environmental Impact: The extraction and use of
non-renewable resources often cause significant
environmental problems.
❑ For example, coal mining can result in
deforestation, soil erosion, and water
contamination,
❑ while the extraction of oil and gas can lead to oil
spills and habitat destruction.
❑ The burning of fossil fuels contributes to air
pollution and climate change due to the release of
carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases.
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Environmental and Societal Challenges of Non-Renewable Resources
1.Depletion: The finite nature of non-renewable resources means that as their consumption continues, their
reserves will eventually be depleted.
2.This leads to increased competition for access to these resources, which can result in geopolitical conflicts,
rising prices, and supply shortages.
3. For example, the extraction of oil from certain fields is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive,
and some of the largest oil reserves are located in politically unstable regions.
4.Environmental Degradation: The extraction, processing, and consumption of non-renewable resources often
have significant environmental impacts.
For example:
1. Mining and drilling can lead to habitat destruction, pollution of air and water, and deforestation.
2. Fossil fuel combustion contributes to global warming through the release of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases, which leads to climate change.
3. Oil spills and other accidents during extraction can cause long-term environmental damage to marine
and terrestrial ecosystems.
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Economic Impacts: Overreliance on non-renewable resources can lead to
economic vulnerability.
As resources become scarcer, prices increase, and economies dependent on
these resources may experience instability.
For example, countries that rely heavily on oil exports may face economic
challenges as global oil demand fluctuates or as reserves begin to deplete.
Transition to Renewable Energy: The depletion of non-renewable
resources and the negative environmental consequences associated with
their use have highlighted the need for alternative energy sources.
Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and
hydropower, is essential to reducing dependence on non-renewable
resources and mitigating climate change.
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Better management of Non-Renewable Resources
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SUMMARY
• Non-renewable resources, including fossil fuels,
minerals, and nuclear fuels, are essential for modern
society, powering industries, transportation, and
technological advancements.
• However, their finite nature and the environmental harm
caused by their extraction and consumption necessitate
careful management and planning.
• The depletion of these resources, along with their
associated environmental impacts, calls for a global shift
towards more sustainable practices and the
development of renewable energy sources to ensure
long-term ecological and economic stability.
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Biotic and Abiotic Resources
Resources are the materials found in the environment that are essential and useful to humans.
They are classified into biotic and abiotic resources based on their origin.
1. Biotic Resources:
These are derived from living organisms and
include all flora, fauna, and human activities.
Characteristics of Biotic Resources:
❑ Originates from living things.
❑ Can reproduce and regenerate (in most cases).
❑ Depend on the biosphere
Renewable or Non-Renewable: Biotic resources can be either renewable (if managed sustainably, such as forests
and fisheries) or non-renewable (such as endangered species or extinct animals).
Examples of Biotic Resources:
- Plants: Forests, crops (e.g., timber, fruits, vegetables).
- Animals: Livestock, fish (e.g., poultry, dairy).
- Humans: Human resources, labor, and intellectual capacity.
- Fossil Fuels: Coal, petroleum (formed from decomposed organic matter over millions of years). 23
Abiotic Resources
Abiotic resources are those that come from non-
living sources,
Example: minerals, water, air, and solar energy
and chemical components of the Earth.
Characteristics of Abiotic Resources:
❑-Inorganic and non-living: These resources do
not come from living organisms.
❑-Cannot regenerate quickly (non-renewable in
most cases).
❑-Formed through natural physical and
chemical processes.
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Comparison Between Biotic and Abiotic Resources
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Interdependence of Biotic and Abiotic Resources
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Summary
Natural resources are classified in various ways to
understand their characteristics, uses, and sustainability.
Proper management, conservation, and innovation are critical
to ensuring that both renewable and non-renewable resources
continue to benefit humanity without causing long-term
environmental harm.
Responsible use and the shift toward renewable energy
sources and sustainable practices are essential for future
generations.
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