What are nonrenewable resources?

The correct response highlights that nonrenewable resources are natural resources that cannot be replenished quickly on a human timescale. This means that once these resources are consumed, they take millions of years to form naturally again, making them finite in availability for practical purposes. Examples of nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as minerals and metals.

To understand why the other choices do not fit, resources that replenish quickly describe renewable resources, which are naturally replenished within a human lifespan. The option stating resources that are permanently available suggests an infinite supply, which is contrary to the nature of nonrenewable resources that are limited and exhaustible. Lastly, the description of natural resources only used for energy narrows the definition excessively, as nonrenewable resources encompass a broader category that includes various materials used in construction, manufacturing, and other applications, not just energy production.