Orecentric

Orecentric is an adjective used to describe analytic, planning, or cultural frameworks that center ore resources as a primary factor shaping outcomes in geography, economics, or policy. The term denotes a perspective that treats ore endowment, extraction, and processing as central drivers of regional development, trade patterns, and political dynamics. It is a neologism formed from ore and the suffix -centric, mirroring other -centric constructions such as eurocentric or ethnocentric.

Origins and usage: The word appears in academic and policy discourse from the late 20th century onward, especially within mineral economics, economic geography, and discussions of extractive industries. It is typically used to characterize a lens rather than a fixed theory, often in studies of mining regions, commodity cycles, or governance around natural resources.

Applications: In economic geology and mineral economics, orecentric analyses foreground ore endowments, grade distribution, and mining feasibility in assessing regional potential. In geography and planning, they describe development trajectories shaped by ore deposits, transit routes, and boom-bust cycles. In cultural studies, orecentric narratives examine how ore myths and extractive industry discourse influence local identities and memory.

Limitations and critique: Critics note that orecentric approaches can overlook environmental impacts, social equity, and alternative development paths such as diversification and recycling. Proponents stress the value of integrating ore-centric insight with sustainability, resilience, and circular economy perspectives.

See also: Resource geography, mineral economics, resource dependence theory, extractive industries, geoeconomics.