Extraction of copper is done using copper pyrites. After roasting, the ore is mixed with silica and coke and then smelted in a blast furnace. The matte obtained from the blast furnace is charged into a silica-lined converter. Some silica is also added, and a hot air blast is blown into the mixture to obtain blister copper, which is purified by electrorefining.
Matte is a mixture of

Options

A. `Cu_(2) S + FeS` (small amount)
B. `FeS + Cu_(2) S` (small amount)
C. `Cu_(2) O + FeO` (small amount)
D. `FeO + Cu_(2) S` (small amount)

Answer

To determine what matte is a mixture of in the extraction of copper from copper pyrites, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Process of Extraction of Copper:**
- Copper is primarily extracted from copper pyrites (CuFeS₂) through a series of processes including roasting, smelting, and refining.

2. **Roasting of Copper Pyrites:**
- During roasting, copper pyrites are heated in the presence of oxygen. This process converts the copper sulfide (Cu₂S) and iron sulfide (FeS) into oxides and sulfur dioxide gas.

3. **Smelting in a Blast Furnace:**
- The roasted ore is then mixed with silica (SiO₂) and coke (carbon) and smelted in a blast furnace. This process helps in separating the metal from the gangue.

4. **Formation of Matte:**
- The product obtained from the blast furnace is called matte. Matte primarily consists of copper(I) sulfide (Cu₂S) and iron(II) sulfide (FeS). The matte is a significant intermediate product in the extraction process.

5. **Composition of Matte:**
- The matte is predominantly made up of a large amount of copper sulfide (Cu₂S) and a smaller amount of iron sulfide (FeS).

6. **Conclusion:**
- Therefore, the correct answer is that matte is a mixture of Cu₂S (copper(I) sulfide) and FeS (iron(II) sulfide).

### Final Answer:
Matte is a mixture of Cu₂S (copper(I) sulfide) and FeS (iron(II) sulfide).

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