Concept:
The hearth of a blast furnace is the lower part where molten iron and slag collect. It experiences very severe conditions.
Step 1: The hearth of a blast furnace is exposed to:
• very high temperature,
• molten metal,
• molten slag,
• chemical attack,
• mechanical wear.
Step 2: Carbon refractories have high thermal conductivity and good resistance to molten iron.
Step 3: Carbon blocks are commonly used in blast furnace hearths because they can resist severe service conditions.
Step 4: Dolomite, magnesite, and chromite refractories are used in other metallurgical furnaces, but the hearth of blast furnace commonly uses carbon refractories.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
\[
\boxed{\text{Carbon}}
\]