Why are sulphide ores converted to oxide before reduction?

(N/A) It is thermodynamically easier to reduce metal oxides than metal sulphides. The reduction of metal sulphides is difficult because the metal-sulphur bond is more stable and the process is less spontaneous compared to the reduction of metal oxides. Therefore,sulphide ores are first converted into oxide ores by roasting,which are then easily reduced to the metal.