Magnesium　aluminate　spinel　(MgAl2O4)　was　prepared　by　solid　state　reaction　using　aluminiferous　waste　slag　and　(MgCO3)4·Mg　(OH)2·5H2O　as　main　starting　materials.　The　influence　of　ZnO　addition　on　the　crystalline　structure,　unit　cell　parameters,　microstructure　and　properties　of　magnesium　aluminate　spinel　was　discussed.　The　crystalline　phases　and　microstructure　of　magnesium　aluminate　spinel　were　examined　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM).　The　results　show　that　zinc　oxide　is　an　effective　mineralizer　and　it　can　enhance　the　amount　of　MgAl2O4.　The　optimal　dosage　for　ZnO　is　determined　to　be　2%,　the　corresponding　MgAl2O4content　is　up　to　93%　in　the　synthesized　material,　its　bulk　density　is　3.36g/cm-3,　apparent　porosity　is　2.78%　and　bending　strength　is　136.2　MPa.