The carbothermic reduction of zinc sulfide in the presence of calcium oxide and lithium carbonate was studied using a thermogravimetric analysis system (TGA), an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS), a carbon and sulfur determinator (CSD), an elemental analyzer (EA), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a surface area analyzer (SAA). Experimental results revealed that the reaction rate was significantly enhanced by the lithium carbonate catalyst. The results of TGA, AAS, CSD and EA were found to be comparable. A reaction mechanism was proposed to interpret the overall reaction.