Copper ores are diverse, with common types including chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, and malachite. These minerals differ in composition, structure, and occurrence, resulting in significant variations in the ease of copper extraction.

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) is the most widely distributed primary copper ore, with large reserves but relatively low copper content (usually below 30%). It is tightly bound to iron sulfides, requiring complex beneficiation and smelting processes to extract metallic copper, leading to high energy consumption and complex technology. Bornite (Cu₅FeS₄) and chalcocite (Cu₂S) are also sulfide ores, but chalcocite has a higher copper content (up to about 80%), a simpler structure, and stronger reactivity during flotation and smelting, making it easier to process than chalcopyrite.

In contrast, copper oxide ores such as malachite (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂) and azurite, while sulfur-free, typically exist as carbonates or silicates. These types of minerals cannot be efficiently recovered directly using traditional flotation methods and often require hydrometallurgical processes such as acid leaching or ammonia leaching. However, under certain conditions, especially in low-grade or complex associated ores, oxide ores are actually suitable for low-cost leaching due to their better solubility.