Which of the following is NOT a category of natural resources?

Natural resources are usually categorized based on their availability and renewal rates, and the term “depleting resources” is not a standard or commonly recognized category within the field of natural resource classification.

Renewable resources are those that can be replenished naturally over time, such as solar energy, wind, and timber. Non-renewable resources, on the other hand, are finite and cannot be replaced once consumed, like fossil fuels and certain minerals. Perpetual resources refer to resources that are continuously available and will not run out, such as solar radiation and geothermal energy.

The inclusion of "depleting resources" is misleading because, while some resources may be depleted over time, they do not form a separate recognized category in natural resource studies. Instead, the characteristics of depletion are generally discussed under the classifications of renewable or non-renewable resources. Therefore, identifying "depleting resources" as not being a recognized category is accurate, as it does not align with standard categorizations used in natural resource management.