The mineral resource assessment is an evaluation method to predict the prospecting potential of mineral resources in a region. It goes through three stages: exploration and application stage, rapid development stage and information stage. This paper sorts out eight theories or methods for mineral resource assessment, including "Three−Part Form", "Weights of Evidence", prospecting prediction complex, metallogenic series, geological anomalies, comprehensive information prediction, geochemical block and nonlinear prediction, illustrates the practicability of the theory or method through relevant application examples, analyzes the research results obtained by the application of potential evaluation methods at home and abroad, and summarizes their development trends. "Three−Part Form" and "Weights of Evidence" are widely used methods, and the metallogenic series is a hot spot in China. With the advancement of technology and the development of mathematical geology, the evaluation of mineral resource assessment has entered the stage of informatization, and 3D deep prediction may be the major development direction of resource assessment in the future.