STUDY OF THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION AND ENRICHMENT OF OXIDIZED LEAD-ZINC ORE OF THE ZHAIREM DEPOSIT

Abstract

This article presents the results of studies of the material composition and enrichment of oxidized lead-zinc ore from the Zhairem deposit. During the enrichment of the studied ore in a heavy liquid, it was established that at a medium density of 2.40–2.45 g/cm³, a heavy fraction is formed with a yield of 90.84%, containing 1.56% lead and 6.12% zinc, with the extraction of these metals being 99.4% and 99.7%, respectively. The light fraction released under these conditions constitutes 21.92% of the mass of the original material and is characterized by a lead content of 0.16% and zinc of 0.22%, with an extraction of 2.65% and 0.97%. When enriched in a heavy suspension with a density of 2.20–2.25 g/cm³, the following products were obtained: a heavy fraction with a yield of 71.80%, containing 1.93% lead and 7.40% zinc (extraction of 96.4% and 98.7%), as well as a light fraction with a yield of 28.16%, containing 0.18% lead and 0.24% zinc (extraction of 3.55% and 1.28%, respectively).

The results of the research indicate the high efficiency of the use of the enrichment method in heavy media for the selective extraction of zinc and lead from the ore under study.