Lead, Crude

lead with an admixture of other metals; obtained from smelting lead ores or ore agglomerates. The percentage of impurities in crude lead is 2-3 percent, rarely up to 10 percent. Usually copper and antimony are present in crude lead; less frequently, arsenic, tin, and bismuth; and sometimes zinc, nickel, and cobalt in small quantities. In addition to these, crude lead contains sulfides of lead, iron, and copper. Silver is almost always present; gold is often present. Crude lead is refined to obtain pure lead.