Question

a) All ores are minerals, but all minerals are not ores. Why?

b) Carbonate ores are usually subjected to calcination, while sulphide ores are subjected to roasting. Comment on the statement.

Answer 1

a) The naturally occuring materials in which the metals are present either in the native or in the combined state are called minerals.

The minerals from which the metals can be extracted economically are called ores.

Hence all ores are minerals but all minerals are not ores.

b) Calcination is the proœss of heating the ore in a limited supply of air below its metting point. This removes the volatile impurities and moisture from the ore. Oxygen is not used up during calcination.

ZnCO_3(s) \(\overset{\Delta}{\longrightarrow}\) ZnO_(s) + O_2(g)

Roasting is the process of heating the concentrated ore in a regular supply of air in a furnace below the melting point of the metal. It is usually employed in the concentration of sulphide ores.

2 Zns + 3O₂ → 2ZnO + 2SO₂
2 PbS + 3O₂ → 2PbO + 2SO₂
2 Cu2S + 3O₂ → 2Cu₂O + 2SO₂