In this topic, you will learn about other natural resources Earth provides.

Diamonds are natural resources. Diamonds are hard to find. They are hidden below Earth's surface. They must be mined, or dug up, before they can be used. Diamonds take many years to form. Diamonds are an example of a nonrenewable resource. A nonrenewable resource is a resource that cannot be reused or replaced in a useful amount of time.

Many of the fuels we use for energy are also nonrenewable resources. Coal, oil, and natural gas are fuels. About 200 years ago, most people burned wood for fuel. One hundred years ago, coal provided almost all the energy used in the United States. Today, oil and natural gas are the fuels used for most of our energy needs. Coal, oil, and natural gas are nonrenewable resources. Most coal was formed millions of years ago when swamps covered large parts of Earth. Plants growing in the swamps died and sank to the bottom. Layers of decayed plants formed a soft material called peat. The peat sank deeper and deeper. Eventually the peat was buried. Thick layers of rock eventually covered the peat. Oil and natural gas are fuels that have many uses. They are both used for heating buildings and homes. Natural gas is also used for cooking food on gas stoves. Oil is made into gasoline, which powers cars and other vehicles. Oil is a thick, brown or black substance found in rocks below Earth's surface. Natural gas is often found in the same places. Both oil and natural gas formed from the rotting remains of tiny sea creatures that lived millions of years ago. Water is a renewable resource. Water can be used over and over again, but it is never used up. Air, like water, is a renewable resource. Air is a mixture of gases.