'ore-associated' is a compound formed in modern English from 'ore' and 'associated'. 'ore' originates from Old English 'ōra' (Old English) meaning 'ore, metal-bearing rock', and 'associated' comes from Latin 'associare' via Old French 'associer', where 'ad-' meant 'to' or 'toward' and 'socius' meant 'companion'.

'ore' remained a basic Old English word 'ōra' referring to metal-bearing rock and continued into Middle and Modern English as 'ore'. 'associated' developed from Latin 'associare' → Old French 'associer' → Middle English/Modern English 'associate' (past participle 'associated'), and the compound 'ore-associated' arose by combining the noun and the past-participle adjective to describe things occurring with ore.

Individually, 'associate' originally meant 'to join or connect (with)', and when combined as 'ore-associated' it came to mean specifically 'connected with ore deposits' — a specialized, technical usage.