Difference between Inexhaustible and Exhaustible Resources

Resources are the sources of supply or support, generally held in reserve”.It include useful information, valuable services and essential materials. Resources are of two main groups:

 1)Human resources: wisdom, knowledge, experience, expertise, labour

 2)Natural resources: natural occurring resources of the biosphere, which can support and sustain life.

The natural resources are classified in different ways.

i) Based on origin, natural resources are classified into abiotic and biotic resources.

    a) Abiotic resources: Not obtained from or produced by living organisms.

         example of abiotic resources: Land, water, air

    b) Biotic (organic) resources

         example of biotic resources: Living organisms and their products

ii) Based on the abundance, availability, recycling and regeneration, natural resources are classified into Inexhaustible and exhaustible resources

 a) Inexhaustible (Non depletable)

1. The resources have no change of getting depleted or exhausted
2. The resources are present in unlimited or infinite quantities
3. Excessive and improper use may result in their pollution .
4. Example of Inexhaustible resources: Solar energy, (cosmic resources) wind power, hydro power, rain fall (climatic resources)

b) Exhaustible (Depletable):

1. The resources have every chance of getting depleted or exhausted. 
2. The resources have finite supply
3. Excessive and improper use may result in wastage and depletion of the resources.
4. Example of Exhaustible resources: Forests, grassland, fossil fuels, minerals,

It may be of two types: 

b (i)Renewable resources (Edaphic resources, water resources, bioresouces)

 b (ii) Non renewable resources(Fossil fuels, Mineral deposits, Biological resources)

Read more: Difference between Renewable and Non renewable Resources