Copper is primarily isolated from copper ores, which are rocks or minerals that contain copper in sufficient concentrations to be economically extracted. The most important copper ores are:

- Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2): the most abundant copper ore mineral, typically found in copper-bearing sulfide deposits.

- Bornite (Cu5FeS4): another common copper ore mineral, often associated with chalcopyrite.

- Chalcocite (Cu2S): a copper sulfide mineral that is often found in enriched copper deposits, formed through the secondary alteration of copper-bearing sulfide minerals.

- Malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2): a copper carbonate mineral that is commonly found in oxidized copper deposits, formed through the weathering of copper-bearing sulfide minerals.

- Azurite (Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2): a copper carbonate mineral that is often associated with malachite and is also formed through the weathering of copper-bearing sulfide minerals.

- Chrysocolla (CuSiO3.2H2O): a copper silicate mineral that is typically found in oxidized copper deposits, formed through the weathering of copper-bearing sulfide minerals.

Copper can also be extracted from other copper-containing minerals, such as copper oxides (e.g., cuprite, tenorite), copper sulfates (e.g., brochantite, chalcanthite), and copper arsenates (e.g., olivenite, clinoclase). However, these minerals are less common and make up a smaller proportion of global copper production.