Resources Can Be Classified Into Three Groups
Natural Resources Man Made Resouces Human Resources
It Could Be Divided Further
Basis of Level Of Development
Basis of Origin
Basis of Distribution
Renewable And Non Renwable
1) On The Basis Of Development Resources Can Be Further Sub Divided Into Two Categories
a)Actual Resources => : Resources whose quantity is known.
E.g., rich deposits of coal in Ruhr region of Germany and
petroleum in West Asia
b)Potential Resources => Resources whose entire quantity
may not be known and are not in use at present. E.g.,
uranium found in Ladakh that can be used in the future
On The Basis Of Origin There Are Subdivisions
Abiotic Resources => Non-living resources. E.g., soil,
rocks and minerals.
Biotic Resources: Living resources. E.g., plants and
animals.
On The Basis Distribution Resources Have Two Subdivisions
Ubiquitous Resources: Found everywhere. E.g., the
air we breathe.
Localised Resources: Found only in certain places.
E.g., iron ore and copper.
Renewable Resources: Resources which get renewed quickly.
Some resources such as solar energy and wind energy are
unlimited and are not affected by human activities. However,
careless use of resources such as forests, soil and water can affect
their stock.
Non-renewable Resources: Resources which have a limited
stock. If the stocks are exhausted, then it may take thousands of
years for them to renew.
Petroleum, coal and natural gas are the examples of nonrenewable resources.
Man-Made Resources
Natural substances which become resources only after their original form
has been changed are called man-made resources.
E.g., Iron ore became a resource only after humans learnt to extract iron
from it.
Technology is also a man-made resource.
Human Resources
Human beings are human resources.
Education and health makes people a valuable resource.
Improving people’s skills so that they can create more resources is called
Human Resource Development.
Resource Conservation
Careful use of resources and giving them time to renew is called Resource
Conservation
