Mineralogy of metallic phases in sulphide mattes from primary lead smelting

The mattes resulting from lead smelting have been studied in order to determine the distribution of heavy metals and metalloids in primary phases. The chemical analysis (EPMA) revealed the presence of various metals (Pb, Sb, Cu), sulphides (galena, wurtzite, pyrrhotite, bornite, digenite, cubanite), arsenides (koutekite, löllingite) and other complex intermetallic compounds. Extreme saturation of the initial matte melt in heavy metals and metalloids as well as a relatively rapid cooling regime are responsible for numerous elemental substitutions in the crystal structures of all the involved phases.