Abstract <p>The article describes the research aimed at improvement of pretreatment and processing technologies as a case-study of refractory complex ore with regard to specifics of its mineral composition. The ore features a fine-grained structure, with numerous micro-interpositions and close intergrowth of ore minerals. Crystals of sphalerite, which is the main mineral of the test ore, has emulsion-type dissemination of chalcopyrite and other sulphides: galena, pyrite. The use of X-ray radiometric separation as a method of ore pretreatment is investigated.</p>