|
|
|
Zinc
Zinc ores are fairly widespread in nature and abundantly distributed
throughout the world, but seven countries account for nearly
75% of world production of zinc concentrates.
Zinc ores are commonly associated with copper, lead and gold
ores and are often produced as a co or by product. The main
ore mineral of zinc is sphalerite (Zn,FeS). Smithsonite (ZnCO3),
willemite (Zn2SiO4) and hemimorphite (Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 H2O) may
occur in the near-surface weathered or oxidised zone of an
orebody.
Sphalerite, called also blende or "black Jack”,
with a cubic structure is the most abundant zinc mineral.
Together with marmatite (Zn, Fe)S, smithsonite and hemimorphite,
blende accounts for practically the hole of world zinc reserves.
Zinc metal is a bluish-white lustrous metallic element that
crystallizes in the hexagonal system. It is rather brittle
at ordinary temperatures but malleable between 100 and 200°C.
Zinc is the third most used non-ferrous metal (after aluminium
and copper). It is primarily used for coating iron and steel
products in order to protect them against corrosion. This
zinc coating is known as galvanising and represents about
40% of the end use for zinc. Zinc is also a major product
in brass alloys, die casting alloys, chemicals and rolled
zinc products.
The metallurgy of zinc depends upon the ore used. The sulfide
ore is roasted to the oxide, then mixed with coal and heated
to 1,200°C. The zinc vaporizes and is condensed outside
the reaction chamber and cast into blocks called spelter.
In another method the ore is processed by flotation, filtering,
roasting, and leaching; the resulting solution is filtered
and the zinc removed by electrolysis.
Links: IZA-The
International Zinc Association,
ILZSG-International
Lead and Zinc Study Group
World Mine Production 2003
Thousand Tonnes
| |
2003
|
|
| America |
3.710,3
|
|
| Asia |
2.625,9
|
|
| Oceania |
1.461,2
|
|
| Africa |
213,0
|
|
| Other countries in Europe |
170,5
|
%
of the European
Production
|
| Finland |
38,9
|
4,07
|
| Greece |
16,4
|
1,72
|
| Ireland |
419,0
|
43,92
|
| Spain |
83,3
|
8,73
|
| Sweden |
189,7
|
19,88
|
| Bulgaria |
30,7
|
3,22
|
| Romania |
23,5
|
2,46
|
| Poland |
152,3
|
15,96
|
| Total
EU 27 |
953,8
|
100
|
| World
Total |
9.134,8
|
|
Source: World Metal Statistics, February 2004
Zinc - Slab Production for 2003 in Europe
Thousand Tonnes
| |
2002
|
2003
|
| Belgium |
238,7
|
243,2
|
| Bulgaria |
83
|
82
|
| Finland |
235,3
|
265,9
|
| France |
338,9
|
268,4
|
| Germany |
378,5
|
387,9
|
| Italy |
175,8
|
147,8
|
| Macedonia |
15,1
|
15,1
|
| Netherlands |
203,4
|
220,6
|
| Norway |
137,3
|
135,5
|
| Poland |
152,1
|
150
|
| Portugal |
3,6
|
3,6
|
| Romania |
51,6
|
51,6
|
| Russia |
257
|
267,6
|
| Spain |
512
|
512
|
| United Kingdom |
99,6
|
16,6
|
| Europe |
2.881,8
|
2.767,9
|
| Africa |
114,9
|
198,2
|
| Asia (*) |
4.177,3
|
4.449,9
|
| America |
1.864,1
|
1.846,4
|
| Oceania (Australia) |
567,0
|
552,9
|
| World
Total |
9.635,1
|
9.815,3
|
Source: World Metal Statistics, February 2004
Note: (*) Inducting Turkey (33,1 Thousand Tonnes in 2002 and
34,8 Thousand Tonnes in 2003)
Zinc - Slab Consumption for 2003 in Europe
Thousand Tonnes
| |
2002
|
2003
|
| Austria |
48
|
48
|
| Belgium |
356,9
|
347,9
|
| Bosnia |
6
|
6
|
| Bulgaria |
13,6
|
14,9
|
| Croatia |
9,6
|
9,8
|
| Czech Republic |
20,3
|
21,2
|
| Denmark |
13
|
11,8
|
| Finland |
56,4
|
45,8
|
| France |
303,3
|
172
|
| Germany |
496,1
|
557,6
|
| Greece |
22,8
|
22,6
|
| Hungary |
12,5
|
15
|
| Ireland |
5,1
|
2,7
|
| Italy |
375,2
|
383,8
|
| Macedonia |
7,2
|
7,4
|
| Netherlands |
114
|
114
|
| Norway |
15,2
|
26
|
| Poland |
88,5
|
99,2
|
| Portugal |
16,4
|
19,1
|
| Romania |
16,9
|
13,4
|
| Russia |
151,9
|
201,3
|
| Slovakia |
28,5
|
28,7
|
| Slovenia |
12
|
13,5
|
| Spain |
226,8
|
237,6
|
| Sweden |
24,8
|
20,3
|
| Switzerland |
19,9
|
11,2
|
| Ukraine |
22,3
|
25,3
|
| United Kingdom |
202,4
|
199,7
|
| Yugoslavia |
7,7
|
7,4
|
| Other Europe |
2,8
|
2,1
|
| Total
Europe |
2.696,1
|
2.785,4
|
| Africa |
207,3
|
189,1
|
| Asia |
4.065,0
|
4.380,8
|
| America |
2.083,5
|
1.842,4
|
| Oceania |
238,4
|
264,7
|
| World
Total |
9.290,4
|
9.462,5
|
Source: World Metal Statistics, February 2004
|
|
|
