矿藏
kuàng cáng · HSK 7
resource
⛏️💎 矿 ore + 藏 to store away = mineral resources stored in the ground
矿 means ore or mineral, and 藏 means to store, hide, or hoard (same character as in 宝藏, treasure). Together: the ores stashed underground, i.e. mineral resources. Note 藏 here is cáng (to store), not zàng.
矿 — stone radical 石 + 广 phonetic
矿 is the simplified form of 礦. The 石 (stone) radical signals the meaning—rocks and minerals dug from the earth—while 广 serves as a simplified phonetic component. Originally it referred to raw ore, and by extension came to mean a mine or mineral deposit.
藏 — grass radical 艹 + 臧 (phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The grass radical 艹 on top suggests plants or vegetation used for concealment, while 臧 below provides the sound. Originally meant to hide or conceal something in the grass, later extended to mean 'store' or 'collect,' and when read 'zàng' it means a treasury or storehouse.