Essential Ores

Stone: Cheap but cost-efficient. A Minecraft staple.

Copper: Faster than stone, quite low durability.

Tin: Slower than copper, but much better durability. Better armor than copper.

Iron: Strong and fast, with pretty good durability.

Lead: Slightly better than iron in every way, but significantly rarer to find. Can replace iron in any crafting recipe.

Tungsten: Better than lead, only slightly worse than diamond and platinum.

Silver: The opposite of gold. Lots of durability, and pretty decent damage and defense. Very slow to mine and attack with.

Gold: Very fast, low durability, you know the drill.

Platinum: The best armor and durability, and very good weapons and tools.

Diamond: The best weapons and tools, and very good armor and durability.