[Tailings Processing] How To Process Lead-Zinc Tailings

Lead-zinc ore is a mineral rich in lead and zinc. In nature, lead and zinc are isomorphic and the symbiosis is very close, so lead ore and zinc ore are often collectively called lead-zinc ore.

Lead and zinc are widely used in electrical, military, metallurgy, machinery, medicine, light industry and other fields.

After the main minerals such as lead and zinc are separated from the raw ore of lead-zinc ore, the tailings also have certain utilization value.

Common lead-zinc tailings processing techniques include tailings reprocessing, tailings dry discharge, use as building materials and goaf backfilling.

Lead-Zinc Tailings Reprocessing

Due to the limitation of lead-zinc ore beneficiation technology and conditions, some lead-zinc tailings still have many recyclable components, such as lead, zinc, iron, sulfur, quartz, barite, etc., which can be recycled for secondary use.

(1) tailings Reprocessing to recover lead and zinc

For lead-zinc sulfide tailings, the regrinding-flotation process is often used.

For lead-zinc oxide tailings, because of their complex components, often chooses the Priority flotation proces, and the lead needs to be deslimed in the flotation process.

For mixed lead-zinc ore tailings, mixed-preferential flotation process is often adopted.

(2) tailings Reprocessing to recover sulfur and iron

When the lead-zinc tailings contain refractory pyrrhotite, it will affect the recovery of iron ,causing the sulfur content of iron concentrate to exceed the standard.

Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the recovery of sulfur and improve the grade of iron concentrate. Generally, the combined process of flotation-weak magnetic-flotation is adopted.

Lead-Zinc Tailings Dry Discharge

Tailings dry stacking is a treatment method in which the moisture content of tailings is reduced by means of concentration and dewatering process to make slag that is easy to precipitate and solidify, and then transported to the tailings pond for dry storage.

Tailings dry discharge can relieve the pressure on the storage capacity of tailings ponds, reduce potential safety hazards, and effectively reduce environmental pollution.

The common solution of lead-zinc tailings dry stacking is the dewatering process of hydrocyclone + dewatering screen + filter press.

Lead-Zinc Tailings Used As Building Materials

For the lead-zinc tailings with unsatisfactory reprocessing effect, it is also a good place to use it for the production of building materials.

The oxides in the lead-zinc tailings are similar to the raw materials used in cement, and the elements such as lead, zinc, and copper in the tailings have a good melting-promoting effect on the calcination of cement clinker. This method can greatly reduce the stockpiling of tailings.

Lead-Zinc Tailings Goaf Backfilling

Backfilling mine goaf is an effective method to directly utilize lead-zinc tailings, especially for mines with nowhere to set up tailings ponds or with limited capacity of tailings ponds, it is a good treatment method.

The above are four lead-zinc tailings treatment processes, and the optimal treatment plan can be selected according to the actual situation of the concentrator.