NATURAL R

ESOURCES

WHAT ARE NATURAL RESOURCES?

Natural resources are substances and materials that are provided by the earth (nature) which human beings can use to make more complex human made products.

Natural resources are useful raw materials that we get from the earth.

Naturally resources occur naturally, which means human beings cannot make natural resource.

Human beings can only modify natural resources in a way which benefits them.

The materials used in human made objects are natural resources.

SOME EXAMPLES OF NATURAL RESOURCESNatural Resource Products or services

Air Wind energy, tires

Animals Foods (milk, steak, bacon, cheese) and clothing (wool, sweaters, silk shirts, leather belts)

Coal Electricity

Minerals Coins, steel, alminium cans, jewellery

Natural gas Electricity, heating

Oil Electricity, fuel for cars, aeroplanes and plastics

Plants Wood, paper, cotton clothing, fruits and vegetables.

Sunlight Solar power, photosynthesis

Water Hydroelectric energy, drinking, cleaning

CLASSIFICATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES Natural resources can be classified according to

their origin or nature. Classification by origin is based on determining

how the resource are obtained or where they come from

Resources can also be classified according to whether they are renewable or non-renewable.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES BY ORIGIN (WHERE THEY COME FROM)

Natural resources which come from living things or organic material are called Biotic resources.

Biotic resources include plants, animals and fossil fuels.

The three fossil fuels are oil, coal and natural gas.

Fossil fuels are classified as biotic resources because they were formed from the remains of organic material over millions of years.

Abiotic resources on the other hand originate from non-living and inorganic material.

Examples of abiotic materials are sunlight, air, water and minerals such as gold, diamond, iron and copper.

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO WHETHER THE NATURAL RESOURCES ARE RENEWABLE OR NON-RENEWABLE

Renewable resources are those that can replenish themselves such as sunlight, wind plants, animals and water.

Therefore renewable resources can be replaced naturally.

For example living things replace themselves through reproduction.

However, the pace at which human beings are using some of the resources is such that they will disappear forever.

Non-renewable resources are those that are unable to replenish themselves such as minerals and the land.

Non-renewable resources take very long to form such as oil, coal and minerals.

However, people tend to use non-renewable faster than they take to form.

NATURAL RESOURCES

R E N E W A B L E R E S O U R C E S

Sunlight

Wind

Water

Plants

Animals

Wood

Timber

Paper

Leather

N O N - R E N E W A B L E R E S O U R C E S

Land (soil)

Minerals

Oil

Coal

Natural gas

Petrol

Diamonds

Petroleum