During the extraction of metals from their ores, roasting is a specific metallurgical process applied primarily to which type of ore?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Roasting is a pyrometallurgical process in which a sulfide ore is heated strongly in the presence of excess air below its melting point to convert it into a metal oxide while releasing sulfur dioxide gas. Carbonate ores undergo a similar thermal decomposition process known as calcination in the absence of air. Roasting helps remove volatile impurities like arsenic and sulfur from the crude ore before reduction.