Lead

Laboratory: Haniwa Ayoudi Mines Exploration & Laboratory Co.

Sample ID: HA-Lab-No-15

Sample name / description: “1” – type of sample: lump ore

Sample weight for analysis: 200 g

Material form: Two hand-sized lump pieces, dark grey metallic with brownish weathering, typical of galena-rich material.

Sample receiving date: 2025-03-01

Analysis date: 2025-03-02

Analytical method: XRF (handheld x-met8000)

Summary

This report represents a bulk XRF scan of a representative lead ore lump sample from Afghanistan.
The data show a very high lead grade with a significant silver credit, supported by low to moderate levels of other metals and typical gangue elements.

Lab Result

Note: Key economic metals are shown in bold (lead as the main value metal, silver as by-product credit).

Main economic metal

• Lead (Pb ≈ 76.5%)

  • This grade is characteristic of high-grade galena ore.

  • Pure galena (PbS) contains ~86.6% Pb; the reported value indicates rock that is mostly galena with some gangue and minor metals.

Valuable by-products

• Silver (Ag ≈ 0.03–0.04%)

  • Equivalent to ~300–400 g/t Ag, which is a very attractive silver grade for lead–silver smelters.

  • Buyers would normally confirm this silver content using wet chemistry or fire assay before finalising commercial terms.

• Tin (Sn ~0.07%) & Antimony (Sb ~0.027%)

  • Present at a few hundred ppm.

  • Not primary ore grades on their own, but in a large deposit they may provide small by-product value depending on the flowsheet.

Penalty / sensitive elements

• Mercury (Hg 0.078%) and Thallium (Tl 0.143%)

  • These are environmentally sensitive and can attract penalties in smelter contracts.

  • Their presence must be monitored and disclosed during detailed negotiations.

• Other elements such as Fe, Zn, Cu, Ba are at low levels and act mainly as gangue or minor impurities.

The chemistry and physical form indicate a high-grade lead ore suitable as feedstock for lead–silver smelters.
The lead content (~76.5% Pb) is the primary value driver, and the indicated silver content (~300–400 g/t) can provide a strong silver credit in typical lead–silver operations.
The ore is best suited for:
Primary lead smelters
Lead–silver refineries that can handle galena concentrates or high-grade lump ore
For international trading, buyers will typically require:
Confirmation of silver content, penalty elements (Hg, Tl), and moisture by accredited laboratories
Information on particle size distribution (if shipped as crushed ore or fines)
Consistent multi-sample data demonstrating that this grade is representative, not just a single exceptional piece.

Overall, the sample represents a commercially attractive high-grade lead–silver ore, provided that follow-up testing confirms similar quality across production lots and that penalty elements are managed within acceptable limits.

Lead Ore Enquiry