10. Conclusions

Antimony metallurgy is a thermal metallurgy adapted to two main types of ore: ores with dominant stibine and ores with accessory stibine.

Sulfide is obtained by liquidation; antimony metal by oxidation of the stibine followed by reduction of the oxide, or by fusion-reduction of the stibine to produce a matte, which is then separated from the denser antimony metal. Some ores contain precious metals whose extraction takes precedence over that of antimony.

From accessory stibine ores, lead and zinc sulfide ores containing lead and copper sulfoantimonides, we produce a mixed galena and stibine concentrate, a zinc concentrate and, possibly, a copper concentrate. In the production of bullion lead or blister copper, antimony follows lead or copper. It is extracted during lead refining in the form of a lead-antimony alloy. On the other hand, recovering...