Mineral resource classification is the classification of mineral deposits based on their geologic certainty and economic value. Mineral deposits can be classified as:

• Mineral resources that are potentially valuable, and for which reasonable prospects exist for eventual economic extraction.
• Mineral reserves or Ore reserves that are valuable and legally and economically and technically feasible to extract

In common mining terminology , an "ore deposit" by definition must have an 'ore reserve', and may or may not have additional 'resources'.