This work investigated the beneficiation of locally available raw material (lead-zinc ore) with the aim of adding value to low grade zinc portion of the ore which could have otherwise been regarded as uneconomical and also determined the most efficient rout of its beneficiation. The ore was sampled, size reduced and subjected to sieve analysis to determine the liberation size. The chemical compositions of the crude ore together with the mineralogy of the ore were determined. The ore was then subjected to gravity and froth floatation beneficiation techniques at the liberation size. From the result obtained, liberation size was attained at particle size -710+500 µm for air float gravity separation with an assay of 42.20% Zn whereas at sieve size -90+50 µm, liberation was attained for the froth flotation method giving an assay of 40.04% Zn. The plot of cumulative% weight retained against Cumulative% weight passing also indicates that optimum economic recovery can be obtained at a liberation size of 500 µm. The chemical analysis of the crude ore reveals that the ore contains 33.53% Zn, 42.93% Pb, 17.01% SiO₂, 7.02% CaO, and other associate minerals in minor quantities. The mineralogical analysis of the ore indicates that the major minerals in the ore are galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS) while pyrite (FeS), siderite (FeCO₃), silica (SiO₂), argentite (Ag₂S), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), gold (Au) are also associated with the ore. The values of the ore after upgrading using air floating gravity and froth floatation methods are 71.06 and 60.50% respectively which implies that the value obtained after processing using the air float gravity method is greater than that of froth flotation method. Also, the optimum size for economic recovery can be obtained at a liberation size of -710+500 µm. Therefore, it is more economical to employ the air floating gravity technique to upgrade the zinc concentrate of the ore.

Ore, Liberation, Gravity, Froth Flotation, Beneficiation, Assay, Mineralogy