Smelting is the process by which a metal is obtained, either as the element or as a simple compound, from its ore by heating beyond the melting point, ordinarily in the presence of oxidizing agents, such as air, or reducing agents, such as coke(Smelting | Definition & Facts | Britannica, 2025).
As the ore is heated in the furnace, molten metal will drip down into a “bloom”, which is a blob of hot metal that you pull out with tongs. Besides extracting the metal you want, you’ll also get slag, which are the impurities that are separated from the ore(Oistacher, 2020).
Smelting unlocks valuable metals from raw ore through intense heat and chemistry. What do you think is the biggest challenge or opportunity in modernizing this essential process? Share your insights!
Reference:
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Oistacher, M. (2020, December 9). What Is Smelting? Manhattan Gold & Silver. https://www.mgsrefining.com/blog/what-is-smelting/
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Smelting | Definition & Facts | Britannica. (2025, March 10). https://www.britannica.com/technology/smelting
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Pyrometallurgy: Process, Advantages, Disadvantages. (2023, August 3). https://scienceinfo.com/pyrometallurgy-advantages-disadvantages/
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