HYDROMETALLURGICAL TREATMENT OF SILICEOUS ZINC ORES

摘要

A process for the recovery of metal values from a siliceous zinc ore whereby the ore is treated with aqueous sulfuric acid in a continuous manner in a first and second stage, in at least two stirred vessels. The ore is leached to an end point pH in the range of 1.5-2.5 over a period of 1-6 hours in the first stage yielding a pulp which is continuously transferred to the second stage where the pH is held to 4.9-5.3 for a period of 1-14 hours, yielding a readily filterable pulp.