Pyrometallurgy is a metallurgical process that uses heat to extract and refine metals from ores. It involves roasting ores at high temperatures to remove volatile materials without melting, smelting to separate impurities from precious metals like gold and silver through heating to form alloys and slags, and cupellation to further purify precious metals using their resistance to oxidation at high heat compared to base metals. Key steps include roasting ores from 1200-1800°C, smelting for two hours to separate gold and silver alloys from slag, and refining gold purity to 99% through carbon ashing, borax mixing, aqua regia purification, and final furnace refining.