Haematite, Pitchblende and Monazite are important ores; which one of the following ore–metal pairs listed is incorrect?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your general knowledge of common ores and the metals extracted from them, a topic that appears frequently in chemistry and general science examinations. Haematite, Pitchblende and Monazite are well known ore minerals. You are asked to identify which ore metal pair is incorrect among the given statements. Recognising the correct association between ore names and their constituent metals is essential for both mineralogy and metallurgical chemistry questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
Haematite is an important ore of iron and is commonly written as Fe2O3.
Pitchblende is a uranium ore and is often represented as U3O8 in simplified form.
Monazite is a phosphate mineral that is an important ore of thorium and rare earth elements.
The option list considers whether each of the pairings Haematite : Iron, Pitchblende : Copper and Monazite : Thorium is correct or not.
We assume standard textbook information regarding these ores.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this question, you need to recall the correct metal associated with each ore name. Haematite is a well known iron ore used widely in iron and steel industries. Pitchblende, also called uraninite, is an ore of uranium and is significant as a source of nuclear fuel. Monazite sand, found in beach sands, is a major source of thorium and some rare earth metals. By checking whether the ore name is matched with the right metal, we can identify which pairing is wrong. Copper is not obtained from Pitchblende, so any statement that pairs Pitchblende with copper is incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm Haematite. Haematite is iron oxide, primarily Fe2O3, and it is a principal ore of iron used in blast furnace extraction. The pairing Haematite : Iron is therefore correct. Step 2: Check Pitchblende. Pitchblende is another name for uraninite, which is an oxide of uranium. It is mined as a major source of uranium, not copper. Thus Pitchblende : Copper is an incorrect pairing. Step 3: Check Monazite. Monazite is a phosphate mineral containing rare earth elements and thorium. It is well known as an important ore of thorium. Therefore Monazite : Thorium is a correct pairing. Step 4: Since only the Pitchblende : Copper pair is wrong, the correct option must state that only this pairing is incorrect. Step 5: Among the given options, the one that explicitly identifies only Pitchblende : Copper as incorrect is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard textbooks and reliable reference sources list Haematite, Magnetite and Siderite as common iron ores. They list Pitchblende or uraninite as uranium ores and mention Monazite sand as an important thorium and rare earth metal source. No authoritative source pairs Pitchblende with copper, since principal copper ores include minerals like chalcopyrite, malachite and cuprite. This independent confirmation from basic mineralogy supports the conclusion that the only incorrect ore metal pair is Pitchblende : Copper.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The option suggesting that Haematite : Iron is incorrect is wrong because Haematite is indeed a primary ore of iron and this pairing is factually correct.
Any option that claims two pairings are incorrect, such as including Monazite : Thorium among the wrong pairs, is incorrect because Monazite is genuinely used as an ore for thorium and certain rare earth metals.
Options that mark more than one pair as incorrect contradict established textbook data and therefore cannot be accepted as correct answers.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is mixing up ore names because many minerals have traditional or less intuitive names. Students sometimes confuse Pitchblende with copper ores such as chalcopyrite due to unfamiliarity with mineral terminology. Another error is forgetting that a single ore can contain more than one metal, leading to the assumption that any metal might be associated with any complex mineral. The best way to avoid these mistakes is to memorise a small list of the most important ores and their corresponding metals, especially those that are frequently tested in examinations.

Final Answer:
The only incorrect ore metal pair is Pitchblende : Copper, so the option stating this alone is the correct choice.