Zinc
Zinc is the 4th most commonly used metal in the world, after iron, aluminum, and copper. It is primarily used in anti-corosion applications, and is an essential trace element necessary for human, plant, and bacterial health.
Zinc is most commonly mined from an ore called sphalerite, a sulfide nearly always found in conjunction with sulfides of copper, lead, and iron. Copper is combined with 3% to 45% zinc to make brass alloys.
Historically, Colorado has been one of the major producers of zinc in the United States. Production has declined in Colorado, and the primary producers of zinc in the United States are now Tennessee and Missouri.
Last Updated:
9/13/2012 4:12 PM