Mixed sulphide–oxide lead and zinc ores: Problems and solutions

Abstract

Mixed sulphide–oxide lead and zinc ores are most often found in the transition, and occasionally in the oxidised, zones of lead–zinc ore-bodies. They are of great importance because there are numerous unexploited or abandoned reserves of these ores in the world. However they present difficulties for conventional mineral processing due to complex mineralogy. In this paper, the specific problems associated with these types of ores are described and methods for solving these problems, combining economic and technical considerations, are discussed. The results of experiments carried out at laboratory scale are presented, in which the dissolution of mixed ore in sulphuric acid without oxidising agents was investigated. The results show the feasibility of zinc recovery from mixed sulphide–oxide lead and zinc ores, which underlines the potential of this approach. We also propose a conceptual flow diagram for the hydrometallurgical processing of these ores.