A mineral that can be mined at a profit is called what?

• A. Ore
• B. Mineral
• C. Metal
• D. Gem

Answer: (A)

In mining, a substance that can be mined at a profit is called an ore. The term ore refers to a rock or mineral that contains enough valuable material—often a metal or another resource—to justify the costs of mining and processing under current market prices and technology. Not every mineral qualifies as an ore; a mineral is simply a naturally occurring solid with a defined chemical composition and structure, and only some minerals are found in sufficient concentration or accessibility to be mined profitably. A metal is a specific type of element or alloy, which is what you ultimately extract from ore after processing. A gem, meanwhile, is a cut or high-quality gemstone used in jewelry and isn’t a term that defines profitability in mining. For example, iron ore is mined because its concentration in the rock is high enough to make extraction and processing economically viable.