A Raw material is something that is acted upon by human labour or industry to create some product that humans desire. Often the term is used to denote material that came from nature and is still in a unprocessed or minimally processed state. Iron ore, crude oil, and logs would be examples. This heap of iron ore pellets will be used in steel production. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... Timber in storage for later processing at a sawmill Lumber or Timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use—from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use—as structural material for construction...

In Marxist economics, the term is used in a distinct sense: raw material is a subject of labor (something that will be worked on by labor) that has already undergone some alteration by labour. In other words it does not apply to materials in their entirely unprocessed state. Thus iron ore still in the earth is a subject of labour but not a raw material. Iron ore that has been dug from the earth is a subject of labour and a raw material. Marxian economics refers to a body of economic thought stemming from the work of Karl Marx. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ...

See also

• Material
• Mineral

Look up material in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. ...

References

• Marx, Capital, Vol. 1, Part III, Chap. 7.