To efficiently recover the valuable metals included in lead chloride formed in nonmetal smelting by adjusting the amt. of the carbonaceous reducing agent to be added, thereby forming a soda slag phase, a lead oxide phase and a metal lead phase at the time of adding a soda ash and a carboneous ruducing agent to the lead chloride and melting the lead chloride.

The lead chloride which is formed in nonmetal smelting and contains valuable metals (especially gold, silver) is melted by adding the soda ash and the carboneous reducing agent to the lead chloride. At this time, the amt. of the carbonaceous reducing agent to be added is adjusted to form the metal lead phase contg. the valuable metals at a high concn. and the soda slag phase and lead oxide phase substantially not contg. the valuable metals. The formed three phases, the metal lead, the lead oxide and the soda slag, may be separated by sp. gr. differences and, therefore, the valuable metals are stably and efficiently recovered.