Lead-zinc　tailings　in　China　have　large　stockpiles　and　a　low　comprehensive　utilization　ratio,　which　have　brought　potential　environmental　pollution　risks　and　safety　hazards.　This　work　aims　to　promote　the　technology　progress　and　practical　production　of　the　development　and　utilization　of　lead　and　zinc　tailings.　The　research　progress　of　resource　utilization　for　lead　and　zinc　tailings　was　systematically　analyzed,　and　the　tailings　reselection　and　tailings　reprocessing　and　utilization　to　prepare　cement,　bricks,　glass-ceramics,　and　filling　materials　were　overviewed.　The　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　tailing　reselection　were　compared　with　those　of　tailing　reprocessing　and　utilization.　Tailings　reselection　and　utilization　can　extract　valuable　metals,　but　with　high　cost　and　complicated　process,　and　a　large　amount　of　tailings　still　exist　after　reselection.　In　contrast,　the　lead　and　zinc　tailings　themselves　contain　silicon　(Si),　calcium　(Ca),　aluminum　(Al)　and　iron　(Fe)　and　other　oxidized　minerals,　and　these　oxidized　minerals　can　replace　clay,　shale　and　cement　and　other　raw　materials　through　reprocess　to　prepare　high-value-added　materials,　which　can　achieve　a　large　number　of　lead　and　zinc　tailings　consumption　and　low　cost.　It　is　proposed　that　the　economic　value　of　mine　tailings　should　be　evaluated　in　advance　and　the　green　reprocessing　and　utilization　of　lead　and　zinc　tailings　should　be　strengthened　to　achieve　tailings　recycling,　reuse,　and　reduction.　©　2024　Editorial　Board　of　Geology　and　Exploration.　All　rights　reserved.