5. Lead metal production

Lead concentrates are processed by pyrometallurgy to produce working lead, which is then purified by refining to produce soft lead. Co-products are also recovered during the refining process: silver, copper, zinc, antimony and bismuth.

The processes used to produce lead work involve either :

• classic, old-fashioned oxidative and agglomerative roasting, followed by oxide reduction and melting;

• which use direct melting in a molten bath.