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Classification of natural resources on the basis of distribution:

1. Ubiquitous Resource: Resources which are available everywhere on the earth are called ubiquitous resources, e.g. air and water.
2. Localised Resource: Resources which are available at select locations on the earth are called localized resources, e.g. coal mines in Jharkhand. Topography, climate and altitude are the major factors which affect the distribution of natural resources.

Classification of natural resources on the basis of their exhaustibility:

1. Renewable Resource: Resources which can be quickly replenished are called renewable resources, e.g. wind energy, hydel energy, solar energy, etc.
2. Non-renewable Resource: Resources which cannot be replenished in the near future are called non-renewable resources, e.g. coal and petroleum. It takes millions of years for the formation of coal and petroleum and hence they cannot be replenished in our lifetime.

Classification of natural resources on the basis of origin:

1. Abiotic Resource: Resources which come from non-living sources are called abiotic resources, e.g. soil, rocks and minerals.
2. Biotic Resource: Resources which come from living beings are called biotic resource, e.g. milk, leather, timber, etc.

Natural resources can be classified on the basis of their level of development and use, origin, stock and distribution.

Classification of natural resources on the basis of development and use:

1. Actual Resource: Resources whose quantity is known and which are being used at present are called actual resources, e.g. coal and petroleum.
2. Potential Resource: Resources whose entire quantity may not be known and which are not being used at present are called potential resources. Potential resources can be used in future once technology for that is properly developed. For example; uranium reserves in Ladakh.