Materials & Resources Vocabulary

• soil

  The top layer of earth. It is a natural material made of minerals, water, air and organic matter.

• clay

  A heavy, sticky type of earth used to make bricks, pottery and tiles.

• gravel

  A collection of many small, loose stones. Used for walkways, driverways and water control.

• silt

  A fine dust-like material found at the bottom of rivers or lakes.

• ore

  A mineral or rock that contains valuable minerals or metals.

• uranium

  A radioactive metal used to create large amounts of energy.

Types of rocks

• granite

  A very strong and heavy rock made from cooled magma (melted rock). Used as building stones and in monuments and countertops, etc.

• limestone

  A soft rock formed from shells and animal remains. Used as building stones, an ingredient in cement and concrete, and to reduce soil acidity, among other things

• marble

  A hard, smooth colourful rock formed from limestone. Used to make walls, floors, countertops, sculptures, etc.

• sandstone

  A rock made of grains of sand tightly stuck together. Used as building stones and in glass manufacturing, etc.

• slate

  A hard, grey rock that breaks into very thin, flat sheets. Used as roof tiles and an electrical insulator.

• chalk

  A type of powdery white limestone. Used for writing and drawing, and reducing soil acidity.

Types of minerals

• quartz

  A very hard, crystalline mineral. Used in watchmaking, glass-making, jewellery.

• asbestos

  A mineral made of small, shot fibres with fireproof properties. Its use is now prohibited in many countries due to health risks.

• graphite

  A soft, shiny mineral made of carbon. Used in pencil- making, battery- making, steel-making.

• gemstone

  A beautiful, rare mineral that is cut and polished into a gem to make jewellery or decorations.

• gem

  A cut, polished and shaped gemstone.

• ruby

  A red, valuable gemstone. Used in jewelry and as a laser crystal.

• emerald

  A green, valuable gemstone. Mostly used in jewellery.

• agate

  A common mineral with colourful patterned stripes. Used in jewellery, carvings and beads.

• garnet

  A common hard, abrasive mineral, famous for its dark red colour, but also found in other colours. Used in jewellery, sand blasting and as a water-jet cutter.

• sapphire

  A valuable gemstone famous for its dark blue colour, but also found in other colours. Used in jewellery, watchmaking and electronic components.

Types of metals

• lead

  A soft, heavy, dense metal. Used for radioactivity shielding and battery manufacturing.

• zinc

  A shiny, bluish-white metal that does not rust easily. Used for coating other metals to prevent rust and to make alloys (brass, bronze).

• cobalt

  A hard shiny grey metal. Used in battery- making, heat- resistant alloys and pigment for the colour blue.

• platinum

  A dense, valuable silvery-white metal. Used in car exhaust systems and jewellery.

Plant-based materials

• bark

  The outer layer that covers the trunk and branches of a tree. Used to make cork, medicine and paper.

• resin

  A thick, sticky liquid that comes from certain plants and trees. Used to make glue, varnish and perfume.

• sap

  A fluid that flows in plants and trees. Maple sap is used to make maple syrup.

• amber

  Fossilized tree resin. Used to make jewelry and ornamentation.

• timber

  Wood that comes from cut trees, ready to be used as a material for construction or making a variety of objects.

• fibre (plant-based)

  Thin, hair-like strands of material from plants. Cotton plant fibres are used to make clothing.

• flax

  A tall, slender plant with blue flowers. Its stem contains fibre used to make fabrics, like linen.

• hemp

  A tall, fast-growing plant with strong fibres used to make rope, canvas and strong fabrics.

• rubber

  A stretchy, flexible material made from the milky liquid found in certain tropical trees. Used to make tires, shoes and medical equipment.

• cork

  Light, tough, and flexible material that comes from the thick bark of the cork oak tree. Used for wine stoppers, flooring and walls.

• crops

  Plants grown by farmers in large quantities t for food, clothing or other resources.

Animal-based materials

• wildlife

  Animals that live in the wild, free from humans.

• livestock

  Animals kept on a farm or ranch, used for food (meat, milk, eggs), materials (wool, leather) or work (farming or transport).

• fishery

  An organized area or business where fish and other sea creatures (like shrimp or lobster) are caught or raised to be used by humans.

• hide

  The skin of a large animal that is treated for use as a material.

• ivory

  A hard, smooth, white material that comes from the tusks of animals like elephants, walruses, and narwhals.

• bone

  Hard, white piece of an animal skeleton. Used in the past to make tools, weapons and jewellery.

• shell

  A hard outer layer that covers and protects an animal, like a seashell. Used to make jewellery, concrete and fertilizer.

• beeswax

  A natural wax made by honeybees. Used to make candles, skincare products and lubricants.

• fibre (animal based)

  Thin, hair-like strands of material from animals. Sheep hair is used to make wool.

• biomass

  Organic material that comes from plants and animals. Used as a renewable energy source.

• biofuel

  Fuel made from biomass.

• freshwater

  Water that contains very little or no salt, and is safe for humans, animals and plants to drink.

• saltwater

  Water with a high concentration of salt, not drinkable. Used for fisheries, transportation and evaporated to make salt.

• groundwater

  Water that is underground, below the surface of the Earth.

• surface water

  Water that is on the surface of the Earth, like lakes, rivers and seas.

• rainwater

  Freshwater from falling rain.

• humidity

  Water vapour. Used for plant growth and to generate energy.

• carbon dioxide

  An invisible gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. Essential food for plants to grow.

• hydroelectricity

  Electricity made from the power of moving water.

• tidal energy

  Energy generated by the rise and fall of an ocean (tide).

• ocean currents

  The continuous movement of ocean water. Used for transportation, beneficial for fisheries and to power turbines to create energy.

• geothermal energy

  Heat that comes from inside the Earth. Used to generate heat and electricity.

• nuclear energy

  Powerful energy stored inside the centre of an atom. Used to generate electricity.

• resource

  Material found in nature that humans use to survive or to make things.

• raw material

  A basic, natural substance that has not been changed or processed yet.

• extraction

  The process of taking or pulling something out of the Earth.

• mining

  The process of digging into the Earth to take out valuable minerals or metals.

• quarrying

  The process of extracting stone, rock, sand or gravel from the surface of the Earth.

• drilling

  The process of making a deep hole in the Earth to reach liquid or gas resources.

• refining

  The process of removing unwanted parts from raw material, keeping only what is needed.

• manufacturing

  The process of making products from raw materials.

• recycling

  The process of turning waste materials into reusable materials to make products.

• renewable

  Natural resources or materials that are naturally replaced over a short period of time. Meaning they will not run out.

• non-renewable

  Natural resources or materials that exist in limited amounts and cannot be replaced.

• sustainable

  Using resources wisely so that they last for future generations.

• biodegradable

  Material that can naturally break down.

• depleted

  A material or resource that has been used up almost entirely.

• decay

  The process where dead plants or animals are broken down. A of natural recycling.

• deforestation

  The clearing or cutting down of forests by humans over large areas.

• conservation

  The protection and wise use of natural resources.