Question

Haematite is an ore of:
(A) Fe
(B) Zn
(C) Cu
(D) Al

Answer 1

Hint: Due to the presence of this element haematite ore has ferromagnetic properties and its initial separation occurs by magnetic separation. Also it is an oxide ore and is red to reddish brown in colour.

Complete step by step answer:
-First let us see what an ore is.
Any rock that contains one or more than one valuable minerals together, which can be extracted, refined and sold in the market at a profitable rate are known as ores. These ores are extracted from the minerals via mining and treated well enough (often via smelting) to extract the minerals from it and separate them from each other.
If any ore has a very high concentration of some desired mineral then it is known as high grade ore and if the concentration is low it is known as low grade mineral.
Metals are generally present in ores in the form of oxides, silicates, sulphides, native states such as copper, etc.

-The major ores of iron are:
  (1) Haematite: In this ore iron is present as $F{e_2}{O_3}$.
  (2) Limonite: In this iron is present as $FeO(OH).n({H_2}O)$.
  (3) Magnetite: In this iron is present as $F{e_3}{O_4}$.
  (4) Siderite: In this iron is present as $FeC{O_3}$.
  (5) Goethite: In this iron is present as FeO(OH).

Haematite and magnetite (more than 60% iron) ores are known as “natural ores” or “direct shipping ores”, which means that they can be directly put into blast furnaces for iron making.
Haematite is basically an iron oxide ore with a molecular formula of $F{e_2}{O_3}$. Its colour is red, reddish brown to brown, black to steel or silvery grey. This ore is much harder than pure iron but also very brittle. It is anti ferromagnetic in nature below 250K and paramagnetic above 948K.Usually the haematite ore is found with silicate gangue and thus its benefaction (purification) involves a combination of many benefaction techniques.
Banded iron formations contain large hematite deposits. The Yellowstone national park in North America is a rich source for ores of gray hematite. Grey hematite is usually found in regions where there is still landing water or mineral hot springs. Here the mineral will precipitate out of water and collect at the bottom of springs, lakes, etc in the form of layers.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Do not confuse yourself between haematite and magnetite since both are high grade ores of iron. Haematite has iron in the form of $F{e_2}{O_3}$ while magnetite has iron in the form of $F{e_3}{O_4}$.