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Australia is thought to have the most zinc reserves in the world, with 64 million tonnes, and is the third-largest producer of zinc. The country's main zinc mines are at McArthur River in the Northern Territory, which is the world's fifth-largest zinc mine, and Hilton-George Fisher in Queensland. Zinc ore is also produced at Rosebery in Tasmania, Elura in New South Wales, and Scuddles and Gossan Hill in Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Zinc mines in Australia | McArthur River in the Northern Territory, Hilton-George Fisher in Queensland, Mt Isa, Rosebery in Tasmania, Elura in New South Wales, Scuddles and Gossan Hill in Western Australia, Beltana in South Australia |
| Zinc production in Australia | 1.35 million tonnes |
| World ranking in zinc production | Third |
| Zinc reserves in Australia | 64 million tonnes |
| Value of zinc reserves in Australia | $159.1 billion |
| Zinc ore deposits in Australia | Sedex-style deposit in the Barney Creek Formation of the McArthur Basin, Mississippi Valley-type zinc lead mineralisation in the onshore Palaeozoic Bonaparte Basin |
| Zinc ore composition | Sphalerite, Willemite, Smithsonite, Hemimorphite |
| Zinc ore extraction process | Drilling, blasting, crushing, grinding, flotation, electrolysis, smelting |
| Zinc ore refining in Australia | Risdon zinc refinery in Tasmania, Sunmetals refinery in Townsville |
| Zinc ore by-products | Lead, silver, copper, gold |
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What You'll Learn
Zinc ore deposits in the McArthur Basin
Zinc ore deposits are found across Australia, with the country boasting more than 20% of the world's known zinc-lead resources. The Northern Territory is a major zinc producer, with the McArthur Basin hosting Glencore's McArthur River mine, the world's fifth-largest zinc mine. This deposit is a 'Sedex'-style deposit, occurring as fine-grained, thinly bedded sulfide ore hosted in the 1640-million-year-old Barney Creek Formation of the McArthur Basin. The McArthur River mine has been operational since 1995 and is expected to continue for another 30 years. It produces zinc and zinc-lead concentrate, which is exported from the Port of Bing Bong on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The mine is located about 970 kilometres southeast of Darwin and is one of Glencore's most remote operations in Australia.
The McArthur Basin also contains the 2013 Teena zinc discovery, which is Australia's largest zinc discovery of the 21st century. Other companies exploring for zinc in the McArthur Basin include GPM Metals Inc. and Rio Tinto Exploration, who are focused on the Walker Fault Zone in Arnhem Land. The Birrindudu Basin, Tomkinson Province, Lawn Hill Platform, and South Nicholson Basin are all areas with high potential for sediment-hosted zinc mineralisation. Furthermore, the Pine Creek Orogen, Aileron Province, and Bonaparte Basin have known resources and a strong possibility of polymetallic zinc, lead, and silver deposits.
The Northern Territory's McArthur Basin is not the only source of zinc in Australia. The Mt Isa region in Queensland is home to large mines at George Fisher, Cannington, and Century deposits, contributing significantly to Australia's zinc production. Additionally, the Dugald River deposit in northwest Queensland is being developed on one of the world's highest-grade zinc deposits. Tasmania, New South Wales, and Western Australia also contribute to zinc production, with notable sites at Rosebery, Elura, Scuddles, and Gossan Hill, respectively.
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Mt Isa, Queensland
Zinc ore is found in several places across Australia, including Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, and Western Australia. One of the significant locations for zinc mining in Australia is Mt Isa in Queensland.
The Mount Isa Mines Limited ("MIM") operates copper, lead, zinc, and silver mines near Mount Isa, Queensland, as part of the Glencore group of companies. The Mount Isa mines have played a crucial role in Australia's mining industry, pioneering significant innovations such as the Isa Process copper refining technology, Isasmelt smelting technology, and the IsaMill fine grinding technology.
The story of Mount Isa's zinc ore began in 1923 when the miner John Campbell Miles discovered an orebody containing lead, zinc, and silver. The rich lodes at Mt Isa were developed despite the remote location and harsh environment. The initial years were challenging, with struggles to finance drilling, metallurgical test work, and shaft sinking. There were doubts about the viability of Miles' discovery, but by the end of 1928, drilling estimates revealed reserves of 21.2 million tons, the largest in Australian history at the time.
The success of Mount Isa's zinc ore mining was closely tied to the construction of a railway connecting the area to Queensland's eastern seaboard. The Queensland Government initially hesitated to invest in the railway due to uncertainty about the mine's longevity. However, after the mining company assured them of covering any potential losses, construction began in 1926, and the line opened in May 1929, providing Mount Isa with a vital transportation link.
Mount Isa's zinc ore production expanded significantly between 1953 and 1973, with the output plateauing at 2.6 million tons per year of lead-zinc ore in 1973. The Mount Isa ore bodies are known for their challenging nature, requiring the company to adopt advanced mining technology. This pursuit of technological innovation led to their founding sponsorship of the Australian Minerals Industry Research Association ("AMIRA") mineral processing research project at the University of Queensland.
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Zinc in New South Wales
Zinc is a valuable mineral that is abundantly found in Australia, with the country holding over 20% of the world's zinc-lead resources. Zinc ore is produced in several parts of Australia, including Elura in New South Wales.
New South Wales has a rich history of zinc mining, with deposits first discovered in the late 1800s at Broken Hill. The state is home to several zinc mines, including the Elura mine, which has been operational for many years. Zinc mining in New South Wales, and across Australia, is typically done through underground operations that are highly mechanised. Ore is drilled and blasted in large volumes, then transferred to rock crushers before being brought to the surface.
The state also has a history of zinc smelting, with the Cockle Creek smelter near Newcastle being a notable example. At Cockle Creek, zinc and lead concentrates were blended, melted, and smelted in a blast furnace to produce zinc vapour. This process resulted in impure molten zinc metal, which was further refined to achieve high purity.
In addition to mining and smelting, New South Wales is also involved in the processing and production of refined zinc. Small amounts of secondary refined zinc are produced at Port Kembla, and primary refined zinc was historically produced at Cockle Creek. The state also contributes to the production of zinc oxide and zinc dust at West Footscray in Melbourne, showcasing the diverse ways in which New South Wales contributes to the zinc industry in Australia.
With its historical deposits, active mines, and involvement in various stages of zinc production, New South Wales plays a significant role in Australia's position as a global leader in zinc production and exports.
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Tasmania's zinc mines
Zinc ore is produced at Rosebery in Tasmania. The state is also home to the mined-out Hellyer deposit. Zinc mining in Tasmania is an underground operation, employing drilling, blasting, and crushing to extract the ore. The ore is then further crushed and finely ground on the surface. This is followed by the flotation process, which separates the zinc from waste rock particles to form a concentrate. The legacy of zinc mining in Tasmania is significant, with investments in exploration and the identification of new ore bodies that will sustain mining operations and contribute to the economy and employment in the region.
The electrolytic process is used to produce zinc metal at the Risdon zinc refinery in Tasmania. The refinery is one of four plants in Australia that have produced primary refined zinc. The other three plants are located in Cockle Creek in New South Wales, Port Pirrie in South Australia, and Townsville in Queensland. The Risdon refinery uses the Jameson flotation cell, where ground ore, water, and chemicals are mixed and agitated in flotation cells. Air is blown through this mixture, causing the fine zinc sulphide particles to stick to rising bubbles and form a froth. This froth, or zinc sulphide concentrate, is then skimmed off and dried, resulting in a concentrate with a zinc assay of more than 50%, a significant upgrade from the original ore, which may have contained only 6% zinc. This process can recover up to 90% of the zinc in the ore.
Tasmania's zinc mining and refining operations are part of a larger zinc industry in Australia, which holds more than 20% of the world's known zinc-lead resources. Australia is the largest producer and exporter of zinc and lead to the rest of the world. The main zinc mines in Australia are located at McArthur River in the Northern Territory, which is the world's fifth-largest zinc mine, and Hilton-George Fisher in Queensland. Other significant deposits include the Dugald River deposit in northwest Queensland, which is one of the highest-grade zinc deposits globally, and the Scuddles mine and Admiral Bay deposit in Western Australia.
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Zinc in Western Australia
Zinc is a highly valuable metal, used in alloys like brass, bronze and nickel silver. It is also used to galvanise steel, protecting it from rust. Australia is a world leader in zinc production and export, with over 20% of the world's zinc-lead resources.
In Western Australia, zinc ore is produced at Scuddles and Gossan Hill. The state is also home to the Hamersley iron ore province, where BHP, one of Australia's largest companies, maintains active mining operations.
The largest zinc mine in the world is located in the Northern Territory, at McArthur River. This mine is the fifth-largest in the world and a major producer of lead and silver. The McArthur Basin also contains the Teena zinc discovery, the largest zinc discovery in Australia this century. The Northern Territory also has the largest onshore zinc deposit in the country, the Sandy Hill deposit.
Australia has the most zinc reserves in the world, with 64 million tonnes, worth an estimated $159.1 billion. The country is also a leader in zinc mining and processing technology. The electrolytic process, for example, is used at the Risdon zinc refinery in Tasmania and the Sunmetals refinery in Townsville.
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Frequently asked questions
Zinc ore is found in several places in Australia. The largest mine is at McArthur River in the Northern Territory, which is the world's fifth-largest zinc mine. Other large mines include Hilton-George Fisher in Queensland, Mt Isa, and Broken Hill, which is one of the world's largest lead-zinc-silver deposits.
Almost all of Australia's zinc mines are underground operations. Ore is drilled and blasted in large volumes, then transferred to rock crushers before being hoisted to the surface. At the surface, the ore is crushed further and undergoes fine grinding. The flotation process is then used to separate the zinc from the waste rock particles to form a concentrate.
Zinc ore is used to produce zinc metal, which has a variety of applications. About 50% of zinc production is used for galvanising steel to protect it from rust. It is also used to make alloys such as brass, bronze, and nickel silver. Additionally, zinc compounds are used in cosmetics, plastics, rubber, ointments, sunscreen creams, soaps, paints, ink, fertilisers, and batteries.
Australia is the largest producer and exporter of zinc in the world. It has more than 20% of the world's known zinc-lead resources and exports zinc to a broad range of countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. Australia's zinc reserves are valued at approximately $159.1 billion.
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