Which statement best describes Nonrenewable Natural Resources?

• A. They are easily replenished after use
• B. They are never depleted
• C. They are created by humans
• D. They form more slowly than they are used

Answer: (D)

Nonrenewable natural resources are resources that form far more slowly than they are consumed. They accumulate over geological timescales, so on human timescales their stocks are finite and can be depleted as we use them. This slow formation relative to rapid use is what makes them nonrenewable.

In contrast, renewable resources replenish quickly after use, which is not the case for nonrenewables. They are not created by humans, and they can indeed become depleted if extracted faster than new amounts can form.