Non-renewable resource

A non-renewable resource (also called a finite resource) is a natural resource that we cannot get back quickly from nature. Once we use these resources, they are gone for a very long time. Examples include fuels like oil and gas, which come from old plants and animals that were changed by heat and pressure over millions of years.

Other non-renewable resources include Earth’s minerals, metal ores, and sometimes water. Even though the basic building blocks like elements still exist, we can run out of easy-to-get supplies.

Some resources, like timber when harvested sustainably, and wind for energy, can be used again and again because they can grow or return within our lifetimes. These are called renewable resources. Knowing the difference helps us care for our planet in the future.

Earth minerals and metal ores

Main articles: Mineral and Ore

Further information: Mining

Earth minerals and metal ores are examples of non-renewable resources. Metals are found in the Earth's crust, but humans can only get them where natural processes have made them easier to find. These processes take thousands to millions of years.

The metal ores close to the surface that we can use today will not come back in human time. Some rare earth minerals are even more limited and are very important for the electronics industry.

Fossil fuels

Main article: Fossil fuel

Further information: Oil depletion

Natural resources like coal, petroleum (crude oil), and natural gas take thousands of years to form. We use them faster than they can be replaced. Experts think that someday, fossil fuels will be too expensive to use, and we will need to start using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power instead.

Right now, most of the energy we use comes from these non-renewable fossil fuels. Since the 1800s, when engines that burn fuel were invented, we have relied on oil and other fossil fuels. Because of this, many of our ways of traveling and daily life still depend on these engines. Many people worry that using so much fossil fuel is bad for the planet and can help cause climate change.

Nuclear fuels

Main article: Nuclear fuel

Further information: Nuclear power proposed as renewable energy and Peak uranium

Nuclear fuels are special materials that help make energy. One common fuel is uranium, which we find in the ground. We dig it up and use it in special reactors to make electricity.

There are concerns about the waste from nuclear power, as it can stay dangerous for a long time. Scientists work to keep this waste safe and protect people and nature.

Land surface

Land surface can be used again, but we cannot make new land. This means land is a fixed resource that we cannot increase, no matter how much we might want more of it.

Renewable resources

Main article: Renewable resource

Further information: Renewable energy and Recycling

Renewable resources are natural things that can be replaced by nature. These include water, forests, plants, and animals. If we care for these resources, we can use them over and over.

We can also reuse materials by recycling. This means turning old items into new things instead of throwing them away. Renewable energy comes from the sun, wind, and water. These energy sources will not run out, unlike oil or gas, which are non-renewable resources.

Economic models

In economics, a non-renewable resource is a type of goods that we use up. When we use more of it today, there will be less for tomorrow. Early work by David Ricardo studied how prices for these resources change over time. He thought the price would go up because as it gets harder to find, there are fewer resources left.

One important idea is Hotelling's rule, created in 1931 by Harold Hotelling. This rule says that when we use a resource that cannot be replaced, the price will slowly increase each year. This happens because the resource becomes rarer, and people will pay more for what is left. Another idea, Hartwick's rule, talks about how to keep an economy strong even when using resources that do not come back.