Abstract: Lead is separated from material containing lead sulfide, e.g., galena ore concentrate, by a substantially autogenous process involving establishing a pool of molten lead in a kettle, adding a metallic alkali metal, e.g., metallic sodium, to the molten lead in an amount sufficient to reduce the combined lead of the lead sulfide to metallic lead, adding the ore concentrate to the molten lead pool, and mixing together the metallic sodium, molten lead and ore concentrate. The sodium reacts rapidly and exothermically with the lead sulfide to reduce the combined lead of the lead sulfide to metallic lead and form sodium sulfide. The thus-liberated metallic lead reports in the molten lead pool, and a matte phase containing the sodium sulfide separates from the molten lead and forms on the surface of the molten lead pool.

Abstract: Antimony values are separated from a material containing a sulfo-antimony compound of copper, e.g. tetrahedrite ore concentrate, by a process involving establishing a pool of molten lead, adding a metallic alkali metal, e.g. metallic sodium, to the molten lead in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the combined antimony of the sulfo-antimony compound or compounds of copper of the tetrahedrite to metallic antimony, adding the tetrahedrite ore concentrate to the molten lead, and mixing together the alkali metal, molten lead, and tetrahedrite ore concentrate. The alkali metal and sulfo-antimony compound of copper are reacted together in the presence of the molten lead for a period which is sufficient to reduce the antimony of the sulfo-antimony compound of copper to metallic antimony and to form one or more sulfo-alkali metal compounds of copper, and a matte phase which separates from the molten lead.

Abstract: Lead is separated from material containing lead sulfide, e.g. galena ore concentrate, by a substantially autogenous process involving establishing a pool of molten lead in a kettle, adding a metallic alkali metal, e.g. metallic sodium, to the molten lead in an amount sufficient to reduce the combined lead of the lead sulfide to metallic lead, adding the ore concentrate to the molten lead pool, and mixing together the metallic sodium, molten lead and ore concentrate. The sodium reacts rapidly and exothermically with the lead sulfide to reduce the combined lead of the lead sulfide to metallic lead and form sodium sulfide. The thus-liberated metallic lead reports in the molten lead pool, and a matte phase containing the sodium sulfide separates from the molten lead and forms on the surface of the molten lead pool.