Solidification/stabilization　(S/S)　of　a　zinc　mine　tailing　through　geopolymerization　has　been　studied.　The　mechanical　property　and　microstructure　of　the　mine　tailings　based-geopolymers　were　investigated　through　compressive　strength　measurements,　FTIR,　NMR　and　SEM　characterizations.　The　stabilization　of　zinc　in　the　geopolymers　was　analyzed　through　toxicity　characteristic　leaching　procedure　(TCLP)　and　the　immobilization　forms　were　characterized　through　XPS.　With　the　content　of　metakaolin　in　raw　materials　increased　from　0　to　50%,　the　amount　of　geopolymer　gel　in　the　binders　and　the　compressive　strength　of　geopolymer　increased.　As　a　ratio　of　metakaolin　to　mine　tailings　of　1:1,　the　mine　tailings　promoted　the　formation　of　silica-rich　gel　and　the　compressive　strength　of　geopolymer　was　30.1　MPa　which　was　similar　to　pure　metakaolin-based　geopolymer.　The　immobilization　efficiency　of　Zn　in　the　geopolymers　is　correlated　to　their　mechanical　property.　Zinc　is　immobilized　in　the　geopolymers　through　physical　encapsulation　and　adsorption　of　the　leached　Zn2+　by　geopolymer　gel.　(C)　2019　The　Authors.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.