Ores

Ores are resources that provide the item that the ore holds. They appear to be stone (or Netherrack) blocks with the mineral or gem inside. Ores are necessary for the building of stronger tools, weapons and items.

List of ores

 * Coal - Can be mined with any Pickaxe.
 * Iron - Can be mined with a Stone Pickaxe or higher.
 * Lapis Lazuli - Can be mined with a Stone Pickaxe or higher.
 * Gold - Can be mined with an Iron Pickaxe or higher.
 * Redstone - Can be mined mine with an Iron Pickaxe or higher.
 * Diamond - Can be mined with an Iron Pickaxe or higher.
 * Emerald - Can be mined with a Stone Pickaxe or higher.
 * Nether Quartz - Can be mined with a Stone Pickaxe or higher.

Qualities
Some ores, like Diamond, Emerald, Redstone, Lapis Lazuli, and Coal provide the resource itself. Other ores like Iron and Gold provide the ore block, which can be smelted into ingots of Iron or Gold.

Trivia

 * Coal Ore was the first ore to be put into Minecraft Pocket Edition.
 * Emerald Ore was added in the 0.9.0 update.
 * Redstone Ore was unmineable till the 0.8.0 update.
 * Emerald is the only ore that is decorational at the moment because villager trading has not yet been added.
 * Emeralds were originally going to be Ruby, but it was changed due to Dinnerbone's red-green colorblindness.
 * Nether Quartz Ore was added in Update 0.12.1.