Zinc

Statistics and Information:  Zinc is the 23^rd most abundant element in the earth's crust. Sphalerite, zinc sulfide, is and has been the principal ore mineral in the world. Zinc is necessary to modern living, and, in tonnage produced, stands fourth among all metals in world production - being exceeded only by iron, aluminum, and copper.  Zinc uses range from metal products to rubber and medicines.  About three-fourths of zinc used is consumed as metal, mainly as a coating to protect iron and steel from corrosion (galvanized metal), as alloying metal to make bronze and brass, as zinc-based die casting alloy, and as rolled zinc. The remaining one-fourth is consumed as zinc compounds mainly by the rubber, chemical, paint, and agricultural industries.  Zinc is also a necessary element for proper growth and development of humans, animals, and plants; it is the second most common trace metal, after iron, naturally found in the human body.

Zinc
(Data in thousand metric tons of zinc content unless otherwise noted)

Domestic Production and Use:  The value of zinc mined in 2007, based on zinc contained in concentrate, was about $2.59 billion. It was produced in 7 States at 14 mines operated by 8 companies. Alaska, Missouri, Montana, and Washington accounted for about 99% of domestic mine output; the Red Dog Mine in Alaska accounted for about 77% of total U.S. production. One primary and 12 large- and medium-sized secondary smelters refined zinc metal of commercial grade in 2007. Of the total zinc consumed, about 55% was used in galvanizing, 21% in zinc-based alloys, 16% in brass and bronze, and 8% in other uses. Zinc compounds and dust were used principally by the agriculture, chemical, paint, and rubber industries. Major coproducts of zinc mining and smelting, in order of decreasing tonnage, were lead, sulfuric acid, cadmium, silver, gold, and germanium.

Salient Statistics:   United States