Some of the processes responsible for mountain building can also lead to the formation of spectacular ore deposits. These deposits can be enormous in size, representing huge geochemical anomalies that contains hundreds of millions of ton of ore (e.g., Chuquicamata, Chile; Butte, U.S.A.) 

Most of these deposits are genetically linked to hydrothermal systems where the source of heat, water and/or elements is related to igneous and metamorphic processes, or to a combination of both.