Abstract: In view of the difficult lead-zinc separation of a refractory lead-zinc ore from Guangxi due to the close intergrowth of lead-zinc minerals and the fine dissemination size, a preferential flotation flowsheet was used to first float the lead mineral and then to float the zinc mineral from the tailings of lead separation . Ammonium dibuyldithiophosphate (ADDP) was used as the collector for the lead mineral and the combination of NaCO₃ and DZ to depress the zinc mineral in lead flotation, and CuSO₄ as the activator and butyl xanthate as the collector for the zinc mineral in zinc flotation. As a result, the lead was successfully separated from the zinc, and a lead concentrate with a grade of 56.25% and recovery of 93.36% and a zinc concentrate with a grade of 48.56% and recovery of 88.63% were obtained.

Key words: Refractory lead-zinc ore, Lead-Zinc separation, Preferential , Flotation, Compound depressant