An ore is a rock or mineral from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted profitably. Each major industrial metal is primarily sourced from one or more specific ore minerals.
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the principal ore from which Aluminium is extracted.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the options to see which metal they are an ore of:
Hematite (\(Fe_2O_3\)): This is the most important ore of Iron.
Bauxite: This is not a single mineral but a sedimentary rock that is the world's main source of Aluminium. It is rich in aluminium hydroxide minerals like gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore.
Galena (PbS): This is the primary ore of Lead.
Chalcopyrite (\(CuFeS_2\)): This is the most important ore of Copper.
Based on this analysis, Bauxite is the correct answer for Aluminium.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The primary ore mineral of Aluminium is Bauxite.