Treatment of sulphidic materials

Abstract

A process for treating a mixed sulphidic material containing lead sulphide and at least one other metal sulphide. The process includes the steps of subjecting the mixed sulphidic material to selective oxidation such that lead sulphide in the material is oxidised to form an oxidized lead compound while substantial oxidation of the at least one other metal sulphide is avoided, and separating the oxidized lead compound from the at least one other metal sulphide. The oxidized lead compound may be separated by flotation wherein the oxidized lead compound reports to the tailings and the at least one other metal sulphide reports to the concentrate (froth).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.