Geomorphologically, the Slovak Ore Mountains belong to the Inner Western Carpathians.

The mountains are bordered by Zvolen in the west, Košice in the east, the rivers Hron and Hornád in the north, and the Juhoslovenská kotlina and Košice Basin (Košická kotlina) in the south.

Geomorphologically, the Slovak Ore Mountains are grouped within the Inner Western Carpathians.

Deposits included ores of copper, lead, silver, gold, zinc and some iron.

From 1494 one of the first multinational corporations was set up by the Thurzó and Fugger families to take advantage of the region's valuable economic resources.