A metal ore is a naturally occurring mineral or rock that contains a high enough concentration of metal elements to be economically extracted and processed. These ores are typically found in the Earth's crust and can be mined for their valuable metal content. They are the primary source of metals such as iron, copper, gold, silver, and aluminum, which are used in various industries and manufacturing processes. Ores are often processed through techniques like crushing, grinding, and smelting to extract the desired metal from the ore minerals.