What is the process of forming a metal ore called?

The process of forming a metal ore is primarily associated with oxidation. In this context, oxidation occurs when a metal reacts with oxygen from the environment, resulting in the formation of metal oxides, which are often the primary components of metal ores. For example, iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide, which can then be mined as iron ore.

This process is essential because most metals are found in nature in their oxidized forms rather than as pure metals. Mining and extraction methods typically focus on these oxidized ores, which can then undergo further processing (such as reduction) to obtain the pure metal.

Understanding oxidation in the context of metal ores helps clarify why this process is fundamental to metallurgy and the production of metals for various applications.