A deposit represents a geologic occurrence where the concentration of one or more minerals is high enough to be of scientific interest.

Ore, on the other hand, is an occurrence of minerals that has an economic value, as well as scientific value. Profit can be made from the mining and processing of ore. With changing commodity prices, or costs of mining and processing, the classification of a given occurrence could change between a deposit and ore. If the price of the product goes up, a deposit may become ore; if the cost mining and/or processing goes up, an ore may become a deposit.

Figure 1: As seen above, deposits form in many different sizes and shapes.

Figure 2: The gold-bearing deposit can be seen within the Earth, however only the portions of the deposit with an appropriate grade and production costs will be considered ore.