ore reserves; mineral reserves
Technical term used in mining and resource estimation. Refers to the amount of ore or mineral resources known to exist in a deposit. Compare with 埋蔵量, which is a broader term for reserves.
See also: 埋蔵量
The ore reserves of this mine are estimated to last another ten years.
The mineral reserves were revised upward after the new survey.
埋蔵量 is a broader term for any kind of reserves (e.g., oil, gas, minerals), while 埋蔵鉱量 specifically refers to ore or mineral reserves.
Compound of 埋蔵 (burial/storage underground) + 鉱量 (amount of ore). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with mining terminology.