Extractive metallurgy is the practice of removing valuable metals from an ore and refining the extracted raw metals into a purer form. In order to convert a metal oxide or sulfide to a purer metal, the ore must be reduced either physically, chemically, or electrolytically.
Extractive metallurgists are interested in three primary streams: feed, concentrate (valuable metal oxide/sulfide), and tailings (waste). After mining, large pieces of the ore feed are broken through crushing and/or grinding in order to obtain particles small enough where each particle is either mostly valuable or mostly waste. Concentrating the particles of value in a form supporting separation enables the desired metal to be removed from waste products.
Mining may not be necessary if the ore body and physical environment are conducive to leaching. Leaching dissolves minerals in an ore body and results in an enriched solution. The solution is collected and processed to extract valuable metals.
Ore bodies often contain more than one valuable metal. Tailings of a previous process may be used as a feed in another process to extract a secondary product from the original ore. Additionally, a concentrate may contain more than one valuable metal. That concentrate would then be processed to separate the valuable metals into individual constituents.
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slab 1. a broad, flat, somewhat thick piece of stone, wood, or other solid material. 2. a thick slice of anything: a slab of bread. 3. a semifinished piece of iron or steel so rolled that its breadth is at least twice its thickness. 4. a rough outside piece cut from a log, as when sawing one into boards. 5. Baseball Slang. rubber. 6. Building Trades. a section of concrete pavement or a concrete floor placed directly on the ground or on a base of gravel. -verb (used with object) 7. to make into a slab or slabs. 8. to cover or lay with slabs. 9. to cut the slabs or outside pieces from (a log). 10. to put on in slabs; cover thickly.
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case-ment 1. a window sash opening on hinges that are generally attached to the upright side of its frame. 2. Also called casement window. a window with such a sash or sashes. 3. a casing or covering.
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