Before we can use metal and make it into useful objects, it must be taken out of the rock. When the rocks have been dug out of the ground, they are taken to a factory. Here, the metal is taken out. This is done in different ways for different kinds of metal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock can be taken to a factory by truck.

Metal ores are loaded onto trucks, ships and trains to take them from a mine to a factory. This may be in another country. At the factory, the ore goes though many processes, or changes. The metal is extracted or taken out of the rock. There are many ways to do this.

 

 

 

 

 

Rocks are heated up in huge hot ovens.

Sometimes, the rocks are put into huge ovens called blast furnaces. The rock is heated up to incredibly high temperatures. In the burning heat, the metal is separated from the rock. This process is called smelting. It is used to take out iron from its ore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electricity is used to take metal out of rocks.

Some metals, such as aluminium, are separated from their ores using electricity. Aluminium ore is mixed with other chemicals. Electricity is passed through it. This is called electrolysis and it separates out the aluminium.