Core Concept
Metallurgy is the complete science of winning metals from the Earth. Every extraction follows a universal three-step pipeline:
Ore → [Concentration] → [Extraction] → [Refining] → Pure Metal
Each step has specific sub-processes selected based on the properties of the ore and metal:
| Step | Purpose | Key Processes |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | Remove gangue (impurities) | Hydraulic washing, magnetic separation, froth flotation, leaching |
| Extraction | Convert concentrated ore to crude metal | Calcination + roasting + smelting; or electrolysis |
| Refining | Remove residual impurities | Distillation, liquation, electrolytic, zone refining, Mond, Van Arkel |
Key Definitions
- Mineral: Any naturally occurring inorganic compound of a metal
- Ore: A mineral from which the metal can be economically and profitably extracted
- Gangue: Earthy/rocky impurities associated with the ore
- Flux: Material added to combine with gangue to form fusible slag
- Slag: The fusible waste product removed from the smelting furnace
NEET Focus
NEET tests: ore identification, matching extraction to metal, Ellingham interpretation, and specific refining methods. One question per year is the pattern.