Mention in conditions required for a natural element to become a resourse.
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Types of Resources
Resources is a very broad term, it is basically anything that can be considered a valuable addition. Anything from air to gold is all resources. Let us take a look at the two broad types of resources – natural resources and man-made resources.
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Resources
Resources are anything that has utility and adds value to your life. Air, water, food, plants, animals, minerals, metals, and everything else that exists in nature and has utility to mankind is a ‘Resource’. The value of each such resource depends on its utility and other factors. For example, metals are gold, silver, copper or bronze have economic value; i.e. they can be exchanged for money. However, mountains, rivers, sea or forests are also resources but they do not have economic value.
There are two most important factors that can turn any substance into a resource- time and technology. With the help of technology, innovation humans can transform a natural or man-made substance into a resource. Like, minerals, fish or other marine creatures sourced from the sea can be used for our food and medicines. Similarly, time also adds to the value of a resource. For example, fossil deposits of organisms over hundreds of years can turn into fossil fuels.
Natural Resources
Natural Resources and Man-Made Resources
Anything and everything that is available naturally on earth is a natural resource. We can further divide them into:
Biotic & Abiotic
Any life form that lives within nature is a Biotic Resource, like humans, animals, plants, etc. In contrast, an abiotic resource is that which is available in nature but has no life; like metals, rocks, and stones. Both biotic and abiotic resources can be renewable or non-renewable.
Renewable & Non-renewable
Renewable resources are almost all elements of nature which can renew themselves. For e.g. sunlight, wind, water, forests and likewise. While, non-renewable resources, are limited in their quantity. Like fossil fuels and minerals. Though these resources take millions of years to form, they would eventually get over within our lifetime if we use continuously.
Learn more about Minerals and Energy Resources.
Potential, Developed, and Stock Resources
Natural elements which are already easily available but humans are yet to discover their real power are Potential resources. For example, solar and wind energy are two natural resources, which have a high potential for human life. Though we are using it, we can use these even more in the future once we understand their true potential.
In contrast, a developed resource is that which humans have discovered and developed over a long time. Most of the water, fossil fuel, minerals, plants and animals that we use for our need today, are developed resources.
There are some resources present in nature, which have enough potential, but we do not have adequate knowledge or technology to develop it. As a result, these remain in nature as stock resources. For example, Hydrogen and Oxygen gases can be used as rich sources of energy but we still do not know how.
Give me some multiple thanks
- Foremost, if human beings are able to recognise any substances as a resource.
- Subsequently, over a period of time there is a development of or in technology which has made the substance to transform/convert or to be utilised as a resource.