What are non-renewable resources characterized by?

Non-renewable resources are characterized by their inability to be replenished within a human lifespan. This means that once these resources are extracted and used, they do not regenerate at a pace that is sustainable for human consumption. Examples of non-renewable resources include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as minerals and metals. The formation of these resources typically takes millions of years, and their rate of extraction far exceeds their natural replenishment.

Understanding this characteristic is crucial in discussions of sustainability and resource management, as it highlights the importance of conserving non-renewable resources and developing alternatives. The other options do not accurately describe non-renewable resources; they either imply a rate of replenishment that is unrealistic given the timescales involved or connect non-renewable resources to renewable sources inappropriately.