1. Smelting of Stibnite (Sb₂S₃):

* This is the most common method. Stibnite, the most abundant antimony ore, is crushed, concentrated, and then roasted in air to produce antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃).

* The trioxide is then reduced with carbon in a furnace to yield metallic antimony.

* The reaction involved is:

* Sb₂S₃ + 5O₂ → Sb₂O₃ + 3SO₂ (roasting)

* Sb₂O₃ + 3C → 2Sb + 3CO (reduction)

2. Hydrometallurgical Extraction:

* This method is used for low-grade ores or for ores containing other metals.

* The ore is first crushed and leached with a suitable solvent, like sodium sulfide (Na₂S), to dissolve antimony as thioantimonate ions.

* The leach solution is then treated to precipitate antimony sulfide, which can then be roasted and reduced to obtain metallic antimony.

Other Methods:

* Electrolysis: While not as common, antimony can be extracted from its compounds using electrolysis.

* Direct Reduction: Some ores containing antimony can be directly reduced using carbon or other reducing agents without prior roasting.

Overall Process:

The specific process used to obtain antimony will vary depending on the ore's composition and purity. However, the methods outlined above represent the general techniques employed.

Note: Antimony production is a complex process that involves multiple steps. The details of each step can vary significantly depending on the specific ore and processing facility.