Natural Resources Rock and Mineral Resources Vocabulary Words for Chapter 4 / Section 1 Chapter 4 / Section 2

(1) Natural Resource Sentence: Many countries around the world are rich in natural resources. Context Clues: Countries; rich

Natural Resource: [noun] Any natural materials used by humans. Most are used to make people’s lives easier and more comfortable. (page 128) Synonyms: Air, soil, fresh water, petroleum, rocks, minerals, forests, and wildlife Antonyms: None.

(2) Renewable Resource Sentence: Though renewable resources can be replaced, many are in danger of running out. Context Clues: Replaced; running out

Renewable Resource: [noun] A natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is used. However, it can be used too quickly. (page 129) Synonyms: Trees; fresh water Antonyms: Nonrenewable resource

(3) Nonrenewable Resource Sentence: Nonrenewable resources cannot be easily replaced because production takes too long. Context Clues: Cannot be replaced; too long

Nonrenewable Resource: [noun] A resource that forms at a rate [thousands of years] much slower than the rate at which it is used. When it runs out, we will have to find another resource. (page 129) Synonyms: Petroleum; natural gas; fossil fuels Antonyms: Renewable Resource

(4) Recycle Sentence: Recycling of aluminum cans saves energy, because less energy is used in recycling aluminum than in making new aluminum. Context Clues: Aluminum; less energy

Recycle: [verb] The process of recovering valuable or useful materials from waste or scrap; recycling reduces the amount of natural resources that must be obtained from Earth and conserves energy. (page 131) Synonyms: Reduce; reuse [newspaper, glass, aluminum cans, plastic, cardboard boxes] Antonyms: Waste

(5) Mineral Sentence: Discovering minerals in the soil can make someone very wealthy. Context Clues: Soil; wealthy

Mineral: [noun] A naturally formed, inorganic (not formed by or from living things) solid. Minerals have a steady chemical composition and have crystal structures. (page 132) Synonyms: Crystal (copper, iron, diamond, gold, platinum, aluminum) Antonyms: None.

(6) Rock Sentence: Shorelines are usually covered with rocks. Context Clues: Shoreline

Rock: [noun] Natural material that makes up most of the solid part of Earth’s surface; a rock may be made of minerals and/or nonmineral materials (i.e. coal). (page 132) Synonyms: None. Antonyms: None.

(7) Metal Sentence: Steel is a metal that is used a lot in building and manufacturing. Context Clues: Steel

Metal: [noun] Some minerals or products obtained from minerals; usually hard, shiny substances that can be melted, shaped, and cut to make things. Good conductors of heat and electricity.(page 136) Synonyms: None. Antonyms: Nonmetal

(8) Nonmetal Sentence: Nonmetallic substances, such as cement and sand, are also used to construct large buildings. Context Clues: Cement; sand

Nonmetal: [noun] Some minerals or products obtained from minerals; usually shiny or dull surfaces. Good insulators of heat and electricity. (page 137) Synonyms: None. Antonyms: Metal