How are ores, minerals and metals related?
An ore by definition, contains minerals extracted from the ground which can be worked economically for profit. For example, a location may be known to contain lead minerals but if this can’t be economically worked, it can’t be considered as ‘ore’. Minerals are what rocks are made from. Some minerals are treated in a processing plant & metals like gold or copper are produced, others such as quartz, feldspar & hornblende are rock forming minerals that are usually not of economic benefit. Metals are generally produced by man (native gold, native copper & native silver are known in the geological environment). The production of metal is the end process in mineral exploration by geologists which leads to the establishment of (economic) ore reserves which is worked to produce metal.
