Band 9: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The diagram shows the different stages in the production of lead. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The diagram illustrates the process of producing lead from raw ore, starting from mining and ending with the casting of the final product.

Overall, it is a linear, eight-stage process that begins with extracting lead-containing rock from the ground and finishes with purified lead being cast into solid blocks. Several stages involve crushing, mixing, heating, and separating materials to remove unwanted metals.

First, rocks containing lead and other metals are mined and then transported to a factory by truck. At the factory, the raw material is crushed into smaller pieces, with water added during this stage to facilitate the process. The crushed material is then mixed with additional water and pine oil in a large tank, forming a lead mixture.

Next, the mixture undergoes a filtering stage to remove impurities. After filtering, the material is refined by heating it to a high temperature of around 1400°C. During this stage, waste gas is released, and the lead along with other metals becomes molten.

Following this, the melted mixture is transferred to a separating kettle, where lead is separated from other unwanted metals, which are discarded as waste. Finally, the purified lead is cast into solid blocks, completing the production process.