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What is the difference of mining, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy

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News

Author:

Lily Chen

Origin:

SANWEI Industry

Time of issue:

2025-02-15 12:30

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I often see people do not recognize the differences between, mining, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Many consider them all as mining which is not right.
It's important to distinguish between these terms, even though they are closely related within the field of mining and metallurgy. Recognizing these differences is crucial for a clear understanding of the entire process from extracting raw materials to producing refined metals.
While they are interconnected, each step has its own unique set of processes, challenges, and expertise involved.
Here's how they differ:
1. Mining:*This involves the extraction of minerals or other valuable materials from the Earth or geological sources. It's essentially the process of physically removing these materials from the ground.
2. Mineral Processing: This step occurs after mining and focuses on the physical and mechanical processing of raw materials, such as ores, to separate valuable minerals from the gangue (unwanted material). Techniques like crushing, grinding, and sorting are commonly used in mineral processing.
3. Extractive Metallurgy: This is a subsequent stage where the extracted minerals or ores are further processed using chemical and metallurgical techniques for further separation of gangue from targeted metal. Extractive metallurgy (hydro or pyro metallurgy) involves smelting, refining, leaching, electrowinning, carbonyl, and other chemical processes.
In summary, mining is the initial extraction, mineral processing involves physical separation and preparation, and extractive metallurgy is the chemical and metallurgical refinement of ores to produce pure metals.
Each step plays a crucial role in the overall supply chain of metals and minerals. Educating people about these distinctions is essential for promoting accurate knowledge and practices within the industry.