The main difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources lies in their ability to be replenished naturally over time.
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Renewable resources are those that can be replenished naturally within a short time frame, such as solar energy, wind energy, and biomass. They can be used repeatedly because they are naturally replenished.
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Nonrenewable resources, on the other hand, are finite and do not renew themselves on a human timescale. These include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as minerals and metals that take millions of years to form. Once depleted, nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced within a human lifetime.
In summary, the primary distinction is that renewable resources can be replenished quickly, while nonrenewable resources take a very long time to form and are limited in supply.