Regional Resources

​Each region in the United States has materials known as natural resources.

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​A natural resource is something in the environment that people can use.

​Raw materials are natural resources that have been changed or processed so that people can use them to make other things.

Animal skin is a raw material and is processed into leather to make shoes, handbags and belts.

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Animal wool is used to make clothes, such as jerseys and scarves

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Sand is a natural, raw material. Sand is heated to extremely high temperatures and melted to make glass

​Clay is moulded and burned to make ceramics, such as teacups, teapots and vases.

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Coal and oil are used to make plastics, paints and fabrics.

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Wood and plant fibres are used to make paper.

​An industry is a form of business.

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Manufacturing means making products to sell. Products are things that people make or grow.

Capital Resources are things that people make in order to produce products.

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​Tools, machines, and factory buildings are examples of a capital resource.