Gravity–flotation beneficiation of oxidized lead–zinc ore

Obtaining new knowledge about the beneficiation of lead-rich oxidized lead-zinc ores attracts wide interest of researchers in the field of mineral processing due to extremely rich reserves of resources and complexity of lead and zinc extraction. The objective of this study is to analyze the mineralogical characteristics of oxidized lead-zinc ore and develop a scheme for its processing using a combined gravity-flotation technology for mineral raw material beneficiation. The mineralogical parameters of the ore, such as mineral composition, dissemination were investigated using microscopic examination of polished sections, chemical phase analysis, X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD) and JEOL JXA-8230 electron probe microanalyzer. The beneficiation of the ore by gravity and flotation beneficiation methods is studied and the jigging conditions, table concentrations, optimum grinding degree, reagent mode are determined and a set of technological studies is carried out. The Pb content of the gravity concentrate is 51.53%, and the Pb recovery is 46.91%. The Pb content of the flotation concentrate obtained from gravity concentration tailings reaches 50.69%, with a recovery of 24.53%. The average Pb content of the gravity-flotation concentrate is 51.24%, with a recovery of 71.44%. Therefore, the results provide important technical support for the processing of similar ores.

Motovilov I. Yu., Telkov Sh. A., Barmenshinova M. B., Omar R. S., Adilzhan Zh. Gravity–flotation beneficiation of oxidized lead–zinc ore. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025; (9-1):126-142. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_91_0_126.

The study was supported by the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. BR21881939).

I.Yu. Motovilov¹, Doctor Ph.D., Associate Professor, e-mail: motovilov88@inbox.ru,
Sh.A. Telkov¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Professor, e-mail: naukaty@mail.ru,
M.B. Barmenshinova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Head of Chair, e-mail: m.barmenshinova@satbayev.university,
R.S. Omar¹, Master of Technical Sciences, Junior Researcher, e-mail: r.omar@satbayev.university,
Zh. Adilzhan¹, Master of Technical Sciences, Junior Researcher, e-mail: z.adilzhan@satbayev.university,
¹ Satbayev University, 050013, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

M.B. Barmenshinova, e-mail: m.barmenshinova@satbayev.university.

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