The difference:Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised due to lack of capital or other reasons. For example, the western parts of India, particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far, these have not been developed properly.
Stock Resources: Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to access these, are included among stock.
For example, water is a compound of two inflammable gases; hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have the required technical ‘know-how’ to use them for this purpose. Hence, it can be considered as stock.