The proportion of the defined orebody that actually gets extracted, as opposed to left behind in pillars or lost to the mine plan.
The percentage of ore in a deposit that is actually extracted and processed. Some ore is lost due to mining constraints, pillars left for ground support, or ore left in stopes. Typical mining recoveries range from 85-95%.
Distinct from metallurgical recovery, and often confused with it. This one is about what comes out of the ground; the other is about what comes out of the plant. Both are applied, and both shrink the reserve.
108 terms have their own page: the definition, why it matters to an investor, where it shows up in practice, and the mistake people make with it.