The concentrate is sintered before being smelted in to produce a 97% lead concentrate. The lead is then cooled in stages which causes the lighter impurites (dross) to rise to the surface where they can be removed. The molten lead bullion is then refined by additional smelting with air being passed over the lead to form a slag layer containing any remaining impurities and producing 99.9% pure lead.

Lead concentrate is used in the production of lead metal and lead alloys. Lead concentrate is insoluble in water and generally has low direct bioavailability. However, extended exposure in the aquatic and terrestrial environments can lead to the release of contained metals in bioavailable forms. These can cause detrimental environmental effects. The mobility of lead and zinc is media dependent. They can bind with inorganic and organic ligands, reducing their mobility and bioavailability in soil and water. Bioavailability is also controlled by other factors such as pH and hardness.