Study on Beneficiation Process of a Low Grade Lead-Zinc Sulfide Ore in Yunnan

A low grade lead-zinc sulfide ore in Yunnan contains 0.76% Pb and 2.10% Zn,and a small quantity of silver was associated in the ore. The lead minerals mainly occurred in the form of galena and zinc minerals mainly occurred in the form of sphalerite. In order to develop the resources reasonably,the beneficiation researches were conducted. Test results showed that under grinding fineness of 80% below74 μm,with diethyldithiocarbamate+butyl xanthate as the collector for lead minerals,zinc sulfate + sodium sulfite as inhibitor of zinc minerals to preferentially float lead minerals, copper sulfide added in lead tailings as activator to activate zinc minerals, and butyl xanthate as collector for zinc mineral flotation,lead concentrate with grade of 52.11% Pb and recovery of 81.56% Pb,and zinc concentrate with grade of50.73% Zn and recovery of 89.16% Zn were obtained respectively,and the separation of lead and zinc was successfully achieved.