 Resource depletion, resource depletion is the consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. Natural resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources see also mineral resource classification. Use of either of these forms of resources beyond their rate of replacement is considered to be resource depletion. Resource depletion is most commonly used in reference to farming, fishing, mining, water usage and consumption of fossil fuels. Depletion of wildlife populations is called defonation.