Ore mineralogy, textures and trace-element distributions at Raibl carbonate-hosted lead-zinc deposit, Tarvisio, Italy, with reference to treatment

A study of samples from three sectors of the mine, which was worked from Roman times to 1991, revealed different textures, mineral associations and distributions of trace elements in the sulphides. In the last decade before closure, grades of sphalerite concentrate were in the range 51.67-53.30% Zn and 2.21-2.86% Pb and of galena concentrate 69.43-71.62% Pb and 4.70-8.36% Zn, while the estimated by-product germanium content of sphalerite concentrates sold was 300-400 g/t. Passing the different run-of-mine materials through the same concentrator flowsheet produced middlings and tailings during the preconcentration processing. Separate and alternative treatment of run-of-mine products would have yielded improved recoveries of sphalerite and galena and better values of by-product germanium and cadmium