Abstract:Changes of leachate and gangue particles were studied to analyze geochemical processes of natural neutralization and precipitation of adsorbed metals through simulating continuous leaching of lead-zinc tailings with acid mine wastewater and ethylxanthate-bearing beneficiation wastewater. Surfaces of mineral particles after leaching were characterized. The results show that when acidic leaching solution with iron, lead and cadmium ion content of 200, 20, and 5 mg/L respectively, and beneficiation wastewater with ethyl xanthate concentration of 100 mg/L pass the leaching column, pH of leachate is 7~8 due to self-neutralization characteristics of carbonate, content of cadmium and lead ions in leachate is less than 0.05 mg/L, and removal rate of ethyl xanthate in leachate is 99% above. The results of mineral particle characterization show that ethyl xanthate does not affect formation of iron minerals. Surface of gangue particles are covered by Ca(OH)2, CaSO4 hydrophilic calcium film and iron minerals, and iron minerals adsorb lead and cadmium ions.