Other types of hydrothermal activity driven by heat processes and normal water percolation from rain help to dissolve, consolidate, and redeposit the minerals in a more concentrated area. Then other processes begin working. This solution settles down into the ground until it hits the water table, where much of it settles out into more concentrated deposits. This is called the zone of accumulation. After being deposited of course, the ore body may be subject to uplifting, tilting and other geological processes that help to expose it.
Copper can combine with many different elements to form many different minerals.
Mostly though, the ore deep in the ground combines with sulfides and near the surface it reacts with oxygen and water to form several kinds of beautiful blue or green minerals. Copper ore is usually present in its oxide mineral forms near the surface as that is where it will be most exposed to the atmospheric oxygen and water. In a well-funded exploration, geologists can study the geological history of the area, and determine the processes that occured in certain locations that were likely to bring about concentrated deposits. Either that, or explorers get lucky, and find it by a lot of digging and hard work. Companies often employ more technologies in locating ore deposits.