Abstract:As high-quality zinc sulfide concentrates are gradually depleted, the raw materials for zinc smelting in the future will shift from high-grade sulfide ores to a variety of low-quality, high-mix lead-zinc ores, including oxide ores, oxygen-sulfur mixed ores, and zinc-containing secondary resources. In response to the challenges brought about by changes in raw materials, a summary of the current status of lead and zinc resources and mainstream zinc smelting methods were provided, and their technical characteristics and applicability were analyzed. The principles and limitations of existing complex zinc resource recovery methods under the new challenges such as future changes in raw materials, environmental protection policies and waste free and low carbon were discussed. In light of the anticipated advancements in green and low-carbon metallurgy in the future, the opportunities and challenges associated with the present pyrometallurgical short-process direct zinc smelting technology in treating complex zinc-containing materials were discussed. Based on the advantages of modern pyrometallurgical molten pool direct zinc smelting technology and enhanced metallurgical technology, the technical feasibility of direct pyrometallurgical zinc bath smelting was analyzed. The development prospects and technical bottlenecks to be overcome of molten pool zinc smelting for complex zinc-containing materials were prospected, so as to provide reference for the development of zinc smelting industry in the future.