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Volume 16
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10.3390/min16030316
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Article

Multi-Scale Process Mineralogy of Cd and Ag in a Pb-Zn Ore: Implications for Recovery Optimization

by
Xiaoliang Zhang
1,
Yong Cheng
1,2,*,
Yang Liu
1,*,
Huiqi Li
3,
Chuanxiong Cai
1,
Yiming Wen
1,
Jun Ma
1,
Saihua Xu
4,
Xiangdong Niu
1,
Yongfeng Lu
1,
Lijuan Zuo
1,
Juqiong Deng
1,
Qi Nie
1,
Guoxin Shan
2 and
Jiajun Tang
2
1
Faculty of Metallurgy and Mining Engineering, Kunming Metallurgy College, Kunming 650033, China
2
Faculty of Land and Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
3
School of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
4
School of Sciences, Xichang University, Xichang 615013, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2026, 16(3), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030316
Submission received: 27 January 2026 / Revised: 6 March 2026 / Accepted: 16 March 2026 / Published: 18 March 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
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Abstract

Efficient recovery of critical metals from complex polymetallic ores relies on clarifying their mineralogical occurrence. A Cd-Ag-rich Pb-Zn ore from southwestern China was investigated via a multi-scale process mineralogy approach integrating reflected-light microscopy, TIMA and LA-ICP-MS. Systematic analysis was conducted on ore texture, mineral liberation characteristics, and the occurrence and distribution of Ag and Cd. The ore is a medium–low grade Pb-Zn deposit (Pb 0.81%, Zn 4.33%) with economically recoverable associated Cd (0.066%) and Ag (5.04 ppm), dominated by sphalerite (7.74%), galena (1.39%), pyrite (3.92%), quartz (47.80%) and calcite (18.66%). TIMA analysis revealed poor liberation of sphalerite and galena, with fully liberated particles accounting for <30%. LA-ICP-MS results showed that Cd is highly enriched in sphalerite (average 5982 ppm, 98%) mainly in isomorphous form, while Ag is dispersed in pyrite (average 178 ppm, 56%), galena (average 227 ppm, 25%) and sphalerite (average 31 ppm, 19%), also primarily as isomorphs; partial Cd in pyrite occurs as micro-inclusions. The multi-scale mineralogical data provide a scientific basis for resource utilization, indicating the necessity of fine grinding and differentiated recovery strategies: “zinc depression followed by lead flotation” for Pb-Zn recovery, the establishment of a comprehensive Ag recovery system with Pb-Zn-Fe as carriers for Ag recovery, and “Zn-carried Cd” flotation for Cd recovery. This study verifies the effectiveness of combined TIMA and LA-ICP-MS in elucidating critical metal occurrence, and provides a mineralogy-based process design for the sustainable processing of such complex ores.
Keywords: lead–zinc ore; cadmium; silver; process mineralogy; TIMA; LA-ICP-MS lead–zinc ore; cadmium; silver; process mineralogy; TIMA; LA-ICP-MS

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, X.; Cheng, Y.; Liu, Y.; Li, H.; Cai, C.; Wen, Y.; Ma, J.; Xu, S.; Niu, X.; Lu, Y.; et al. Multi-Scale Process Mineralogy of Cd and Ag in a Pb-Zn Ore: Implications for Recovery Optimization. Minerals 2026, 16, 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030316

AMA Style

Zhang X, Cheng Y, Liu Y, Li H, Cai C, Wen Y, Ma J, Xu S, Niu X, Lu Y, et al. Multi-Scale Process Mineralogy of Cd and Ag in a Pb-Zn Ore: Implications for Recovery Optimization. Minerals. 2026; 16(3):316. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030316

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Xiaoliang, Yong Cheng, Yang Liu, Huiqi Li, Chuanxiong Cai, Yiming Wen, Jun Ma, Saihua Xu, Xiangdong Niu, Yongfeng Lu, and et al. 2026. "Multi-Scale Process Mineralogy of Cd and Ag in a Pb-Zn Ore: Implications for Recovery Optimization" Minerals 16, no. 3: 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030316

APA Style

Zhang, X., Cheng, Y., Liu, Y., Li, H., Cai, C., Wen, Y., Ma, J., Xu, S., Niu, X., Lu, Y., Zuo, L., Deng, J., Nie, Q., Shan, G., & Tang, J. (2026). Multi-Scale Process Mineralogy of Cd and Ag in a Pb-Zn Ore: Implications for Recovery Optimization. Minerals, 16(3), 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/min16030316

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