Resource stocks (as opposed to mining stocks) tend to be companies with a resource of material, with no need to “mine” to get to it. Mining is a process of extraction of materials (the resource) from the earth, usually (but not always) from an ore body, vein or seam. Any material that cannot be grown from agricultural processes, or created artificially in a laboratory or factory, is usually mined. Here is data on Pan European listed mining and resource stocks.