| Detailed mineralogical characterization of a silver-containing lead-zinc ore in Yunnan province was carried out by using chemical analysis, microscopic observation, automatic mineral analyzers (MLA), etc. The results show that the recoverable metals include lead, zinc and silver. The lead and zinc in the ore mainly co-exist in the form of galena and sphalerite. A small quantity of silver exists in proustite, pyrargyrite, freibergite, etc., whereas more silver is hidden in isomorphic and plumbous mineral. The gangue mineral mainly consists of quartz, also of some sericite, calcite and kaolin. The galena and sphalerite are closely symbiotic with metasomatic texture and wrapped each other, which will lead to great difficulty in the mineral liberation of the ore. Sericite and kaolinite are also very apt to be slimed so as to produce adverse effects on the flotation separation. |
