Principles of Extractive Metallurgy

This document outlines the scope and foundational principles of a course on extractive metallurgy. It introduces the learning objectives, emphasizing understanding of metal extraction and refining techniques, reactor and flowsheet design, and the development of computational skills using tools such as C++, MATLAB, and Excel-Solver. The text defines extractive metallurgy and mineral resources, classifies ores and metal sources, and discusses key factors governing commercial metal production, including ore availability, technology, properties, market demand, and process economics. It describes unit operations and unit processes, their classification by phase, equipment, and reaction type, and shows how they combine into flowsheets for metals such as copper, iron/steel, and zinc. Major extraction routes—physical separation/mineral processing, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and electrometallurgy—are summarized, with emphasis on thermodynamics, kinetics, heat/mass transfer, fluid flow, and electrochemistry as underlying principles. The document also provides detailed examples of mineral processing (comminution, classification, froth flotation, agglomeration) and pyrometallurgical operations (calcination, roasting, smelting), including a comprehensive description of carbothermic ironmaking in the blast furnace and its reaction zones.