Metallurgy
The science and technology of extracting metals from their ores and preparing them for use.
Unit
Dimensionless
In depth
The process runs from crushing and concentrating the ore, through conversion to an oxide by roasting or calcination, to reduction and finally refining. Which reduction method is viable depends on the metal's position in the reactivity series and on the thermodynamics summarised in an Ellingham diagram.
Examples in the real world
Iron from haematite in a blast furnace; aluminium from bauxite by electrolysis; copper by smelting and electrorefining.