miniore

Miniore is a term that appears in multiple contexts to describe a small or low-grade ore. It is not a recognized mineral species in standard real-world geology, nor is it an official category in major mineral classifications. The term is primarily descriptive, used when the ore body does not meet criteria for larger, economically viable deposits.

The word is a compound of mini- and ore, indicating limited size or value. In technical reports, miniore may be used informally to flag ore material that requires additional processing or to designate fine-grained material that is not aggregated into a bulk ore body. Because it lacks formal status, its definition varies by region and company.

In practice, miniore deposits can be challenging for mining companies due to scale, grade variability, and extraction costs. Resource estimation for such material typically involves rapid assessment, dilution, and cut-off grade analyses to determine viability. In some jurisdictions, the classification of small or low-grade ore under fixed thresholds impacts reporting standards.

In video games, fantasy literature, and some science fiction works, miniore is a fictional resource that can be mined, refined, or alloyed to create tools, weapons, or power sources. Its properties—such as color, energy content, or rarity—depend on the fictional world and can drive game balance or plot elements.

See also: ore, mineral, ore grade, mining terminology.