Roasting and Calcination
Roasting and calcination are fundamental processes in metallurgy that prepare ores for the extraction of metals. Both methods involve heating ores but under different conditions.
Roasting
- Definition: The process of heating ore in the presence of air.
- Purpose: To convert sulfide ores into their respective oxides, which are easier to reduce in later stages of metal extraction.
- Commonly Used For: Sulfide ores such as Zinc Sulfide (ZnS).
Calcination
- Definition: The process of heating ore in the absence of air.
- Purpose: To remove volatile impurities, particularly carbon dioxide from carbonate ores.
- Commonly Used For: Carbonate ores like Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO₃).
In summary, both roasting and calcination are critical in the metallurgy of metals, setting the stage for subsequent metal extraction methods.