Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a crystalline structure and a definite range of chemical formula.
Ores are concentrations of minerals in rock that are high enough to be economically extracted for use. All ores are minerals, but all minerals are not necessarily ores.
Ore deposits can be classified according to a number of different criteria, such as
the minerals contained within the deposit (e.g. porphyry copper deposits)
the shape or size of the deposit (e.g. strataform and stratabound deposits)
the host rocks (e.g. shale hosted deposits, breccia pipes)
the genesis of the deposit (see below)