mineral resources
Earth's extractable treasures
Mineral resources are naturally occurring substances in the earth that have economic value—metals, ores, coal, petroleum, stone, and similar materials that can be extracted and used.
The term typically appears in discussions of geology, mining, and national wealth: The country's mineral resources include copper, gold, and natural gas.
A region rich in mineral resources often becomes a site of industrial development or geopolitical interest.
- coalCombustible sedimentary rock
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- natural gasSubterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- goldElement seventy-nine
- ironElement twenty-six
uranium · extraction · resource extraction · platinum · blood diamonds · gypsum · nickel · graphite · mining · open pit · bauxite · sulfur · zinc · cobalt · lead · rare earth elements · petroleum · oil reserves
- resourcesmoney, capital, materials, supplies, assets
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- Interior DepartmentBLM, National Park Service, NPS, USGS, public lands
- Polish GeologyCarpathian Mountains, Carpathians, Wieliczka, salt mines, coal deposits
- conservationconservation, wildlife, endangered, habitat, sanctuary
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
mineral resourcesrenewable resources
Supplies that naturally replenish
renewable energy · solar energy · wind power · hydropower · sustainable resources
mineral resourcestimber
Wood for construction
fisheries · wildlife · livestock · crops · marine resources
mineral resourceshuman capital
Workers' skills and knowledge
intangible assets · social capital · human resources · intellectual property · cultural capital