Recovery of bismuth from chloride process solutions

A method for the separation of bismuth from a complex chloride solution having a pH of about 0.5 to 2.5, and obtained by leaching with chloride reagents ores containing bismuth and high concentrations of other metals, said solution comprising over 20 g/l copper, over 20 g/l iron and about 0.3 to 0.5 g/l bismuth, said method comprising adding to said complex chloride solution at least a stoichiometric amount of a precipitating agent selected from the group consisting of hexamminecobalt (III) salts and hexamminechromium (III) salts soluble in said solution to precipitate said bismuth as a hexamminecobalt (III) bismuth salt or a hexamminechromium (III) bismuth salt and separating said precipitate from said solution.