Ores are naturally occurring rocks or minerals that contain economically valuable elements, typically metals or metal compounds. These materials are extracted for their desired components through mining and refining processes. Ores can exist in various forms, including oxides, sulfides, and carbonates, and their concentration of the valuable element may vary. Common examples include bauxite (aluminum ore), hematite (iron ore), and chalcopyrite (copper ore). The extraction of metals from ores involves processes like smelting or leaching to isolate the valuable components, which are then further processed to obtain the pure metal for various industrial applications.