Metal recovery process

A process for recovering the metal content of ores selected from the group consisting of metal containing sulfide and oxide ores and mixtures and concentrates thereof comprising igniting a mass consisting essentially of an intimate admixture of said ore and metallic aluminum to cause the metal content of said ore to be converted to metallic form, sintering said ignited mass at a temperature within the range of approximately 1000.degree. to about 1500.degree. C. to form a coherent, porous and easily pulverizable mass containing the metal content of said ore in metallic form, grinding said sintered mass, cooling said mass to a temperature within the range of from approximately 770.degree. to approximately 1000.degree. C., and conveying the same past a first electromagnet whereby the metallic cobalt content thereof is separated therefrom, further cooling said mass to a temperature no lower than approximately 359.degree. C. and conveying the same past a second electromagnet to separate the metallic iron content therefrom, and subsequently cooling said mass to a temperature no lower than approximately 100.degree. C. and conveying the same past a third electromagnet to separate the metallic nickel content therefrom.