Natural Resources 

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Renewable resources: resources that can be replaced within 1-2 generations.

Non-renewable resources: resources that are not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.  Some resources that exist today may have been accumulating for the last 4 billion years.

Resources classified as:

1) metallic minerals
2) non-metallic minerals
3) energy resources
4) other

1) Metallic Minerals:
 
Substances used for their metallic properties.

A) Abundant: are present in the Earth's crust in concentrations greater than 1%.  Include iron, aluminum, silica, manganese, magnesium, titanium.

B) scarce metals: metals that exist in the crust in concentrations less than 1%.  Include gold, silver, copper, mercury, molybdenum, lead, zinc.
 

2) Non-Metallic Minerals:

Substances used for other than their metallic or energy properties.  Includes:

Halite (salt)
Materials for fertilizers
Sand
Gravel
Building Stone
Abrasives
Clay (used for cosmetics and medicines)
Paint pigments

3) Energy Resources:

Substances used to produce energy.

Renewable: water, solar, wind
Nonrenewable: fossil fuels, radioactive material

4) Other:

Usually flora and fauna.  Will not be discussed in Environmental Geology.
 

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Resource: a concentration of naturally occurring solid, liquid, or gaseous material in or on the Earth's crust in a form that allows for economic extraction.

Ore: Rock the resource is contained within.

Concentration Factor: concentration of the metal in the ore as compared to the average concentration of the Earth's crust.

Reserve: economically and legally extractable. "Reserves" vary depending on politicts and tecnology.

Subeconomic Reserves: not economical at this time.

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