Final answer:
Minerals, timber, and coal are natural resources that are depleted over time due to human consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Minerals, timber, and coal are natural resources that are depleted over time due to human consumption.
In the case of minerals, such as iron ore or copper, they are extracted from the Earth's crust and used in various industries. As they are mined and processed, they are gradually depleted.
Timber, which refers to trees cut down for logging purposes, is also depleted because trees take a significant amount of time to grow back.
Coal, a fossil fuel, is burned for energy production, which not only releases pollutants but also exhausts the limited reserves of coal in the Earth's crust.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is B. depleted.