Minerals are not considered a renewable resource. Unlike renewable resources such as sunlight, wind, and biomass, which can naturally replenish within a short period of time, minerals are formed over millions of years through geological processes. Once extracted and used, the deposits are depleted, and it can take a very long time for new deposits to form, if they form at all.
For example, metals like copper, gold, and aluminum are extracted from mineral ores, and while recycling can help to recover some of these materials and reduce the demand for fresh mining, the process itself does not create new mineral resources. This means that, on a practical level, the availability of minerals is finite.
In conclusion, while we can manage and recycle mineral resources to extend their use, they do not regenerate naturally within a human timeframe, making them non-renewable resources.