PROCESS FOR ZINC OXIDE PRODUCTION FROM ORE

A process for recovering zinc oxide from a zinc ore, the process including the steps of: leaching the zinc ore with an alkaline lixiviant comprising an aqueous mixture of NH3 and NH4Cl, or ionic equivalent, having a NH4Cl concentration of between about 10 g/L and about 150 g/L H2O and a NH3 concentration of between 20 g/L H2O and 250 g/L H2O, to produce a zinc containing leachate and a solid residue; stripping ammonia from the leachate to produce a stripped liquor which includes a zinc containing precipitate, the stripped liquor having a NH3 concentration of between 7 and 30 g/L H2O; separating the zinc containing precipitate from the stripped liquor; and converting the recovered zinc containing precipitate into zinc oxide using at least one of the steps of: roasting the zinc containing precipitate to a temperature of between 400 to 900 °C; or hydrolysis of the zinc containing precipitate in water having a temperature of between 80 and 300 °C.