The diagram illustrates the process used to produce lead from raw ore. Overall, it is a linear, eight-stage procedure that begins with mining the ore and ends with casting the refined metal into blocks.
First, lead ore, which contains lead and other metals, is mined from the ground. It is then transported by truck to a factory for further processing. At the factory, the ore is crushed into smaller pieces, and water is added during this stage to facilitate the breakdown of the rock.
Next, the crushed material is transferred to a mixing tank, where it is combined with water and pine oil to form a lead mixture. This mixture then undergoes filtering to remove impurities. After filtration, the material moves to the refining stage, where it is heated to a high temperature of approximately 1400°C. During heating, waste gases are released, and the metals are melted.
In the subsequent stage, the molten material is poured into a kettle for separation. Here, the remaining unwanted metals are removed as waste, leaving purified lead. Finally, the refined lead is cast into solid blocks, completing the production process.
In summary, while the early stages focus on physical processing such as crushing and mixing, the later stages involve high-temperature refining and separation to obtain pure lead.