Contrast a mineral resource and a mineral reserve?

Answer 1

I suggest resource goes further back than reserve. For example you might say uranium is a resource-we know how to use it to get energy. But it only becomes a reserve when we actually have a supply of it available, in reserve. Similarly coal is a resource, but you can only call it a reserve when you know where to go to get it, and that there are no political or logistic reasons whereby you cannot get access to it.

Actually a resource is something that is valuable to mankind. A reserve is a resource that is economically and technologically viable to be mined or obtained.

Answer 2

Mineral reserves are currently economically feasible. Mineral resources are currently or potentially economically feasible. They both answer the question 'how much is left?' and they seek this answer with geologic and economic considerations. Reserves can be viewed as a subset of resources. The McKelvey Box simplifies this difference by identifying economic feasibility and geologic certainty. The box consists of (from top to bottom, then right to left) reserves, marginal reserves, and demonstrated sub economic resources. Again, reserves are economically extractable at present. Marginal reserves are reserves if economic conditions change, and demonstrated sub economic resources exhibit data to show that the reserves are actually there. On the second column of the chart lie hypothetical resources which are undiscovered, but in known mining districts. And in the last column or section, there are speculative resources which are undiscovered and geologically favorable to exploration.

Answer 3

Mineral resources are Earth's storehouse of useful minerals that can be recovered for use, whereas reserves as well as deposits that are not yet recoverable under present economic conditions or technology.