Zinc

Primary Applications

Galvanizing steel, brass and alloys, die casting, batteries, zinc chemicals

Mining Significance

Zinc is mined principally from sulfide deposits in which sphalerite is the primary zinc ore mineral. Important deposit types include volcanogenic massive sulfide, sediment-hosted, and Mississippi Valley-type systems, commonly with lead, copper, and silver. Flotation is widely used to produce zinc concentrates, and mineral associations strongly influence selectivity, concentrate grade, and recovery.

Industries

None listed

Zinc

65.38

Key Properties

Bluish-white metal with useful corrosion-protection properties.
Forms a protective corrosion layer, making it effective for galvanizing steel.
Moderate melting point supports casting and alloy manufacture.
Important electrochemical metal used in several battery systems.
Commonly occurs in nature as sphalerite rather than native zinc.

Mining Targets

This element is often found in the following Deposit Types and Mineral targets.

Deposit Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) - Sulfide deposits formed by seafloor hydrothermal systems and commonly enriched in copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver.

Mineral: Sphalerite - ZnS - Sphalerite is the principal zinc-bearing sulfide mineral in zinc-bearing VMS deposits.