Question

What is the role of silica in the metallurgy of copper?

Answer 1

During the roasting of pyrite ore, a mixture of $FeO$ and $C{u}_{2}O$ is obtained. The role of silica in the metallurgy of copper is to remove the iron oxide obtained during the process of extraction of pure copper from copper pyrite, $Si{O}_2$ acts as acidic flux which combines with iron oxide($FeO$) to form iron silicate ($FeSi{O}_3$).