Classification and management of natural resources such as minerals and petroleum are classified using differing schemes.
[4][5] In 1997, UNECE published the United Nations Framework Classification for Reserves and Resources of Solid Fuels and Mineral Commodities (UNFC-1997) as a unifying international system for classifying solid minerals and fuels.
[6] In 2004, the Classification was revised to include petroleum (oil and natural gas) and uranium and renamed the UNFC for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources 2004 (UNFC-2004).
[7] In 2009, a simplified United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) was published.
UNFC has been adopted as the basis of national resource classification in many countries including China, India,[18][19] Mexico,[20] Poland[21] and Ukraine.