A process of leaching silicated zinc ores with sulfuric acid in which the ore is reacted at elevated temperature with at least a stoichiometric amount of sulfuric acid, treating products of the reaction with a predetermined quantity of hot water, filtering the zinc sulfate solution from precipitated silica, washing with a further predetermined quantity of hot water (the total amount of hot water used being determined so as to obtain the desired concentration of zinc in solution). The zinc is later recovered electrolytically. A 1 to 6N sulfuric acid solution may be used in which case a gelatinous mass is formed upon reaction and then it is evaporated at 100 DEG C of at least 60% of its water content. Alternatively the ore can be malaxated with about 20% stoichiometric excess concentrated sulfuric acid, and filtered at out at elevated temperature.
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