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Zinc mining

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Zinkgruvan, a zinc mine in Askersund Municipality, Sweden

Zinc mining is the process by which mineral forms of the metal zinc are extracted from the earth through mining. A zinc mine is a mine that produces zinc minerals in ore as its primary product. Common co-products in zinc ores include minerals of lead and silver. Other mines may produce zinc minerals as a by-product of the production of ores containing more valuable minerals or metals, such as gold, silver or copper.[1] Mined ore is processed, usually on site, to produce one or more metal-rich concentrates, then transported to a zinc smelter for production of zinc metal.[2]

Global zinc mine production in 2020 was estimated to be 12 million tonnes. The largest producers were China (35%), Australia (12%), Peru (10%), India (6.0%), United States (5.6%) and Mexico (5.0%), with Australia having the largest reserves.[3]

The world's largest zinc mine is the Red Dog open-pit zinc-lead-silver mine in Alaska, with 4.2% of world production.[4][5] Major zinc mine operators include Vedanta Resources, Glencore, BHP, Teck Resources, Sumitomo, Nexa Resources, Boliden AB, and China Minmetals.[5]

History

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World zinc production, 1946

Zinc deposits have been exploited for thousands of years, with the oldest zinc mine, located in Rajasthan, India established nearly 2000 years BP.[6]

Pure zinc production occurred in the 9th century AD while, earlier in antiquity zinc was primarily utilized in the alloying of copper to produce brass.[7] This is because the isolation of zinc metal from its ore poses a unique challenge. At the temperature zinc is released from its ore it also vaporizes into a gas, and if the furnace is not airtight, the gaseous zinc reacts with the air to form zinc oxide.[8][9]

Metallic zinc smelting occurred in 9th century BC in India, followed soon by China 300 years later, and In Europe by 1738 AD.[7] The methods of smelting in China and India were most likely independently developed, while the method of smelting developed in Europe was likely derived by the Indian method.[10][7]

The primary modern use for zinc is for coating iron and steel in order to prevent its corrosion, with nearly half of worldwide zinc production going towards that purpose.[11] Approximately 20% of the world's zinc is used in the production of brass, where zinc is alloyed with copper in between ratios of 20-40% zinc.[11] Of the remaining 30% of the global production of zinc, half is used in the production of zinc alloys, where zinc is combined with varying amounts of aluminium, and magnesium.[11] The remaining zinc is used in various other industries from agriculture as a fertilizer and human consumption as a supplement.[11]

Methods of extraction

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Schematic cut and fill mining

Zinc is mined both at the surface and at depth. Surface mining of zinc, typically used for oxide ores, while underground mining yields zinc sulfide ores.[12] Some of the common methods of zinc mining are open pit mining, open stope, and cut and fill mining:[12][8][13][14]

Open-pit mining: Surface mining involves the removal of waste rock from above an ore deposit before it can be extracted. Once the waste overburden is removed, ore and waste are then mined in parallel, primarily using track-mounted excavators and rubber-tired trucks. In smaller scale operations, front loaders may be used.[15]

Open Stope mining: This is a method of underground mining where ore bodies are completely removed leaving sizeable caverns (stopes) within the mine. Open stope mining leaves these caverns with no additional bracing or external support, instead the cavern walls are supported by random pillars of ore which have not been removed.[15]

Cut and Fill stoping: A method of underground mining which removes ore from below the deposit. The stope is then filled with waste rock to replace the mined out ore to support the stope walls, and to provide an elevated floor for the miners and equipment to further extract ore from the deposit.[15]

Production

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See also: List of countries by zinc production

Global mine production of zinc in 2019 was 12.9 million tonnes, a 0.9% increase from 2018, with the increase primarily attributed to increased output from zinc mines located in Australia and South Africa.[16][3]

In 2020, production of zinc is expected to rise 3.7% to 13.99 million tonnes, with the increase due to increased production of zinc by China and India.[17]

In 2019 global demand for refined zinc exceeded supply and resulted in a deficit of 0.178 million tonnes, while in 2020 there is an expected surplus of 0.192 million tonnes.[17]

Major zinc producing countries ranked by their output for 2023 are as follows:[18]

Country Output (million tonnes) Share of world production
China 4 33%
Peru 1.4 12%
Australia 1.1 9%
India 0.86 7%
USA 0.75 6%
Mexico 0.69 6%
Bolivia 0.49 4%
Other Countries 2.71 23%

Environmental impact

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Research conducted in the health of the benthic macroinvertebrate populations in the mining areas of southeastern Missouri, a US state, have yielded a wealth of information on the effect of zinc mining and its effect on its local environment. Fish and Crayfish populations in localities near mining sites have been observed to be much lower than other populations found in reference sites; with the crayfish possessing metal concentrations within their tissues at a much greater concentration than their reference counterparts.[19] Other investigation into the effect of the health of mussel populations that reside near lead-zinc mining areas have found that the populations residing near mining areas possessed reduced biomass, and were less specious than those found in their reference sites.[20] Plant tissue have been reported to possess concentrations of metals 10-60% higher than reference.[21] Macroinvertebrate assessments of localities immediately downstream of mining activity have observed a reduction in biotic condition 10-58% and with the ecosystem having an impaired ability to support its populations when compared to other reference sites.[22]

Benthic macro-invertebrates such as crayfish and mussels represent a pathway for biomagnification, where the concentration of noxious materials within organisms at higher trophic levels accumulates as a result of consuming contaminated prey. In addition, benthic macroinvertebrate populations are frequently used as indicators of overall ecosystem health.[19][23][24]

Assessment of soil samples from agricultural areas near a lead-zinc mining region in Guangxi, China have observed a "Serious pollution level" of zinc in the soils of the paddy fields relatively close to the mining area and a "Moderate pollution level" in the aerated fields relatively further away.[25] The research also indicated that as a result of their Nemerow synthetic index assessment, the region under study is not fit for agricultural purposes.[25] Other investigation into the effect of zinc mining on agricultural soils in the Heilongjiang Province of China has found that the soils were "moderately contaminated" and a significant reduction in the population and diversity of the bacterial assemblages within the soils and reduced activity of soil enzymes.[26] The activity of the bacteria and enzymes aid plant matter in the uptake of nutrients, decompose decaying matter, and other ecosystem interactions.[26] Their reduction and impaired effectiveness result in poorer agricultural productivity.

Zinc mines

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The world's ten largest zinc producing mines (by tonnes of zinc) are:

Name of the mine Owner Production
tonnes		 Operations
Red Dog (USA) Teck Resources 552,400
(2019)[4]		 open-pit zinc-lead-silver mine
Rampura Agucha (India) Vedanta Resources (64.9%)
Government of India (29.5%)		 357,571
(2019)[27]		 underground zinc-lead-silver mine
Mount Isa (Australia) Glencore 326,400
(2019)[28]		 George Fisher and Lady Loretta underground lead-zinc-silver mines
Antamina (Peru) BHP (33.75%), Glencore (33.75%), Teck
Resources (22.5%), Mitsubishi Corporation (10%)		 303,555
(2019)[4]		 open-pit copper-zinc-molybdenum mine
McArthur River (Australia) Glencore 271,200
(2019)[28]		 open-pit zinc-lead-silver mine
San Cristóbal (Bolivia) Sumitomo Corporation 206,100
(2019)[29]		 open-pit silver-lead-zinc mine
Dugald River (Australia) China Minmetals 170,057
(2019)[30]		 underground cut and fill stoping
Vazante (Brazil) Nexa Resources 139,000
(2019)[31]		 underground and open pit zinc-lead-silver mine
Cerro Lindo (Peru) Nexa Resources 126,000
(2019)[31]		 underground zinc-lead-copper-silver mine
Tara (Ireland) Boliden AB 122,463
(2019)[32]		 underground zinc-lead mine

See also

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References

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  2. ^ "Processing". McArthur River Mine. Glencore. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
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  18. ^ Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024
  19. ^ a b Allert, A. L.; DiStefano, R. J.; Fairchild, J. F.; Schmitt, C. J.; McKee, M. J.; Girondo, J. A.; Brumbaugh, W. G.; May, T. W. (April 2013). "Effects of historical lead–zinc mining on riffle-dwelling benthic fish and crayfish in the Big River of southeastern Missouri, USA". Ecotoxicology. 22 (3): 506–521. doi:10.1007/s10646-013-1043-3. ISSN 0963-9292. PMID 23435650. S2CID 28565656.
  20. ^ Besser, John M.; Ingersoll, Christopher G.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Kemble, Nile E.; May, Thomas W.; Wang, Ning; MacDonald, Donald D.; Roberts, Andrew D. (2015-02-10). "Toxicity of sediments from lead-zinc mining areas to juvenile freshwater mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea) compared to standard test organisms". Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 34 (3): 626–639. doi:10.1002/etc.2849. ISSN 0730-7268. PMID 25545632. S2CID 22828049.
  21. ^ Besser, John M.; Brumbaugh, William G.; May, Thomas W.; Schmitt, Christopher J. (2007-05-08). "Biomonitoring of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Streams Draining Lead-Mining and Non-Mining Areas, Southeast Missouri, USA". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 129 (1–3): 227–241. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9356-9. ISSN 0167-6369. PMID 16957839. S2CID 12958503.
  22. ^ Poulton, Barry C.; Allert, Ann L.; Besser, John M.; Schmitt, Christopher J.; Brumbaugh, William G.; Fairchild, James F. (April 2010). "A macroinvertebrate assessment of Ozark streams located in lead–zinc mining areas of the Viburnum Trend in southeastern Missouri, USA". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 163 (1–4): 619–641. doi:10.1007/s10661-009-0864-2. ISSN 0167-6369. PMID 19347594. S2CID 207128684.
  23. ^ Mullins, Gary W.; Lewis, Stuart (November 1991). "Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Stream Health". The American Biology Teacher. 53 (8): 462–466. doi:10.2307/4449370. JSTOR 4449370.
  24. ^ Hernandez, Maria Brenda M.; Magbanua, Francis S. (2016-12-01). "Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community as an Indicator of Stream Health: The Effects of Land Use on Stream Benthic Macroinvertebrates". Science Diliman. 28 (2): 5–26. ISSN 0115-7809.
  25. ^ a b Zhang, Chaolan; Li, Zhongyi; Yang, Weiwei; Pan, Liping; Gu, Minghua; Lee, DoKyoung (June 2013). "Assessment of Metals Pollution on Agricultural Soil Surrounding a Lead–Zinc Mining Area in the Karst Region of Guangxi, China". Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 90 (6): 736–741. doi:10.1007/s00128-013-0987-6. ISSN 0007-4861. PMID 23553502. S2CID 13204093.
  26. ^ a b Qu, Juanjuan; Ren, Guangming; Chen, Bao; Fan, Jinghua; E, Yong (November 2011). "Effects of lead and zinc mining contamination on bacterial community diversity and enzyme activities of vicinal cropland". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 182 (1–4): 597–606. doi:10.1007/s10661-011-1900-6. ISSN 0167-6369. PMID 21494836. S2CID 37742692.
  27. ^ "Form 20-F Vedanta Ltd Annual and transition report of foreign private issuers". United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Haryana, India: Vedanta Ltd. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Zinc". Glencore Australia. Sydney NSW: Glencore. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  29. ^ Suda, Rieko (27 March 2020). "Sumitomo temporarily halts Zn, Ni mining operations". Argus Media. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  30. ^ "MMG results for the year ended 31 December 2019" (PDF). Kowloon, Hong Kong: MMG Limited. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Nexa Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results and Announces Cash Dividends of US$50 Million". Luxembourg: Nexa Resources S.A. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  32. ^ Matus, Anna (31 December 2019). "Boliden Summary Report Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves 2019: Tara Mine" (PDF). Stockholm: Boliden Group. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
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