The　present　work　studies　the　immobilization　forms　of　lead　in　alkali-activated　cementitious　binders　(AACBs)　based　on　mine　tailings.　Through　deconvolution　of　Pb　4f　XPS　spectra　of　the　mine　tailings-based　binders,　the　immobilization　forms　of　lead　in　network,　and　lead　in　silicate　glass　of　PbO·3SiO2　and　PbO·7SiO2　were　first　quantitatively　presented.　The　29Si　NMR　spectra　of　the　binders　synthesized　with　Pb(NO3)2　additions　from　0　to　6%　give　the　ratios　of　silicates　involved　in　the　formation　of　lead　silicate　glass,　ranging　from　0　to　10.56%.　In　addition,　images　of　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM)　equipped　with　X-ray　microanalytical　mapping　and　results　of　zeta　potential　measurements　confirmed　the　immobilization　forms　in　the　mine　tailings-based　binders.　It　not　only　gives　fundamentals　for　the　solidification/stabilization　(S/S)　of　mine　tailings　through　alkaline　activation　process,　but　also　enriches　the　understanding　on　the　immobilization　of　heavy　metals　in　AACBs.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd