What are some examples of nonrenewable resources?

Answer 1

A nonrenewable resource is a resource that there is a fixed amount of, or ones that humans cannot produce, replace, re-grow, regenerate, replenish, or figure out how to recycle and reuse in a quick manner. Human consumption is immediate and continual, but Earth and Nature makes most resources continually but very slowly.

Generally, the term "non-renewable resource" applies first to fossil fuels that take millions of years for Earth and Nature to make, and not quickly enough to replace what is used.

Examples of nonrenewable resources are anything mined from the Earth. In the field of energy and heating, that includes Fossil Fuels:

1. peat, coal, charcoal
2. lignite
3. petroleum (e.g. oil) and diesel which is the first part that burns off from oil; Gasoline
4. shale
5. natural gas
6. uranium for nuclear energy / nuclear fuel

Once you burn them or use them they can't be used again.

In contrast, resources such as timber (when harvested sustainably) or metals (which can be recycled) are considered renewable resources, for the most part. However, we cannot be sure when or if these might run out.

In the field of materials,

1. sand and gravel
2. precious gems, gold
3. diamonds
4. minerals
5. iron ore
6. bauxite
7. copper

Once you have mined what humans can reach, there's no more until the earth produces it or humans figure out how to "dig deeper" to find another area of that resource.

Timber / Wood / Hardwoods

1. Humans can cut acres of forest every day. Forest fires can wipe out thousands of acres in a day.
2. We must replant what we take.
3. Saplings take many years to grow into sturdy, mature trees.
4. We must balance cutting with planting. For every 1 tree we fell, we must plant 3 saplings.

Food not made by humans, but by nature, and which humans can over-use, threaten sustainability, and delete to near extinction:

1. any kind of edible, wild vegetation - this includes medicines made from wild plants and tree bark
2. any edible marine life: fish, oysters, shrimp
3. any edible birds: chicken, turkey, geese, ducks
4. any edible animals: cows, hogs/pigs, etc.
5. Products received from these: milk, eggs, cheese

Foods that are manually worked by humans are renewable, generally, but are not immediate to grow and available to consume:

1. any kind of farmed crop
2. any kind of vine crop, such as grapes
3. any kind of orchard crop

Water

Humans cannot make water resources, either, but it is naturally renewable. However, weather patterns etc. can cause major droughts.

There are lots more, but those are just the basics.

Uranium

Answer 2

Oil, natural gas, petroleum