Extracting metals from ores requires a number of operations: some mechanical, physical, and physicochemical known as mineral beneficiation and some chemical known as extractive metallurgy. The chemical processes can be divided for convenience as pyro-, hydro-, and electrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy is the most ancient technology, while hydrometallurgy is about four centuries old. On the other hand electrometallurgy is the most recent and came into existence only after the invention of the large-scale electrical generators in the mid nineteenth century. No wonder then that, in some cases, these last two new technologies are displacing the older ones gradually, either because of improved efficiency and better economics or to comply with environmental regulations. Examples are given.