Abstract: A low grade Sichuan lead-zince ore is characterized by s high oxidation, fine dissemination size and easy sliming and especially a large amount of hematite and limonite. Its main zinc mineral is smithsonite, which is of low grade and extremely difficult to recover. Such type of ore is often abandoned. Test was made in light of the ore properties, where a principle process of preferential flotation and two staged grinding was adopted. Based on the conventional sulfuration-flotation, a compound collector of L-05 was used for zinc oxide ore. As a result, a lead concentrate with 50.22% lead grade, 76.25% recovery and 1.89% zinc content, and a zinc concentrate with 20.01% grade, 56.14% recovery and 1.52% lead content were obtained, realizing an effective separation of lead from zinc of oxide ore.

Key words: Low grade, oxidized lead-zinc ore, smithsonite, limonite, compound collector L-05