Figure 8.3 Generic metal production flowsheet.
The production of metals from metalliferous ores typically involves the stages of mining, mineral processing/concentrating, metal extraction, and refining. Both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processing routes are used; the former involves smelting of metal concentrates at high temperatures whereas the latter involves leaching of ores and concentrates into aqueous solution at temperatures generally not too far removed from ambient (shown schematically in Figure 8.3). The choice as to which processing route should be used is invariably based on economic considerations, which are strongly influenced by issues such as ore grade and mineralogy.