The chief ore of zinc is sphalerite (ZnS) which is found in veins in association with galena, chalcopyrite’s, iron pyrites and other supplied ores. Deposits of zinc occur in sedimentary rocks especially limestone, as a replacement deposit, originally derived from some igneous intrusion.
Zinc is largely used for galvanising or coating iron and steel sheets to prevent their corrosion by atmospheric gases. It is also used for alloying, in the manufacture of white pigments, dry batteries, electrodes etc. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper; and German silver of zinc, copper and nickel. Zinc dust is used for the preparation of zinc compounds and salts. Similarly zinc oxide is used in paints, ceramic material, inks, matches etc.
The proven ore resources for zinc and lead in the country are estimated at 383 million tones. Of this, 176 million tones with 2.17 per cent lead (Pb) and 8.16 per cent zinc (Zn) are believed to be in the mineable’ category. Bulks of these deposits occur is Rajasthan (Hindu Survey of Indian Industry 199jH p.274). According to another estimate the total re-H serves (proved, probable and possible) of zinc Orel are 186.3 million tonnes containing 98.66 lakh tones of metal (Statistical Profiles of Minerals, 1995). I
Production
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India produced 2,144 tons of zinc concen-1 trades valued at Rs. 6.5 lakhs in 1951 which in-l creased to 15,055 tons in 1971 (value: Rs. 14.41 million) and 136,958 tons in 1990-91 (value :Rfl 1004 million). The current production (in 2002-03)1 is 485,976 tones (valued at Rs. 3.80 billion) which] is 227 times (in value 5,846 times) than that of 1951 output of zinc concentrates (Table 17.XXIV).
India: Trends in the Production of Zinc Concentrates
Years
Value (Rs. lakhs)
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Source: Statistical Abstract India, 1997 and 2003.
Regional Distribution
The entire production (in 2002-03 about 99.97%) of zinc concentrates of the country comes from Rajasthan. Sikkim is another state which contributes remaining 0.03 per cent of the country’s output of zinc concentrates (Table (17.XXV).
Rajasthan-The Zawar area of Udaipur district is the most important zinc producing region in the country. Here zinc ores are associated with lead ores and are found in molomitic limestone’s. In Zawar area there are two main zones of mineralisation: (a) Pipli Khan to Barla Khan; and (b) Mochia Magra, Balaria. At Present the working is confined to a length of 815 meters in the Mochia Magra hill up
to a depth of 125 m. The proved reserves are of the order of 57.5 lakh tonnes of ore carrying 1.8 percent of lead and 3.7 percent of zinc. In the Balaria area the ore lays up to a depth of 152 m with estimated reserves of 6.47 million tones.
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New finds of zinc and lead have been discovered near Jahajpur and Sabalpur area in Bhilwara district; Taragarh hills, Ganeshpura and Sawar in Ajmer district: Jodhawas in Alwar district; and in Pali, Bharaipur and Sawai Madhopur districts.
Others-Other areas where zinc deposits have been discovered include: the Bhotang area (Sikkim), Riasi (Jammu and Kashmir), Almora Tehri-Garhwal (Uttaranchal), and near Mamandur village in South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu.
Consumption and Trade
Zinc consumption in India rose from 60.000 tons in 1960-61 to l .3 lakh tones in 1990-91 and 2.5 I lakh tones in 1996-97. With the expansion of industries, the demand for zinc has risen steeply; more than 4 times between 1961-97. The present smelting capacity for zinc is 1.82 lakh tones.
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There are 3 smelters for zinc in the country: (i) at Alwaye m Kerala (Cominco Binani Zinc Ltd.) with a capacity of 20,000 tons annually using imported concentrate from South Africa, Australia and Canada; (ii) at Debari in Rajasthan (Hindustan Zinc Ltd) with rated capacity of 36,000 tones; and (iii) at Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh with a capacity of 30,000 tons per annum. There is a proposal to increase the smelting capacity of the Debari and Vishakhapatnam plants by 10,000 tons each.
India imports zinc concentrates from Australia, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Russia and Zaire. In 1976 India imported 38,493 tons of zinc concentrates valued at Rs. 8.9 crores which increased to 45,977 tons worth of Rs. 44.86 crores in 1993-94. With the commissioning of the Rampura-Agucha- Chanderiya integrated project of the Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL) in 1991-92 the indigenous production is expected to meet 90 per cent of the home demand.