Characterisation and Beneficiation of Lead-Zinc Ore from Ebonyi State Deposits for Concentrate Production

This study characterises the mineralogy and geochemistry of lead-zinc ore deposits in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria, and evaluates beneficiation strategies for the production of commercially acceptable lead and zinc concentrates. Ebonyi State hosts significant lead-zinc occurrences in the Abakaliki Basin that have attracted artisanal mining activity, and systematic metallurgical characterisation is required to support the development of formal small-scale processing operations. Representative ore samples are collected from three active mining areas and subjected to XRD, XRF, SEM-EDX, and electron probe microanalysis. Liberation analysis is performed at 150, 75, and 45 micrometre grind sizes. Froth flotation tests are conducted using sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX) as the collector and MIBC as frother, with pH adjusted using lime. Differential flotation of lead and zinc is tested by selective depression of sphalerite with zinc sulphate at pH 8.5, followed by zinc circuit activation at pH 10.5. Results indicate galena and sphalerite as the principal ore minerals with minor chalcopyrite. At 75 micrometre grind, differential flotation produces a lead concentrate assaying 62 percent Pb at 85 percent recovery and a zinc concentrate assaying 48 percent Zn at 78 percent recovery. The study recommends pilot flotation trials incorporating fine grinding for improved liberation of interlocked galena-sphalerite grains. Keywords: lead-zinc ore, beneficiation, froth flotation, Ebonyi State, concentrate production.