Zinc is the primary component of hot-dip galvanized coating, the oldest anti-corrosion process.
But to only recognize zinc as it is used in the galvanizing process would be a huge disservice to the natural, healthy metal. The silvery, blue-gray vital metal is abundant, essential, and common – and even more importantly infinitely recyclable.
Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It naturally exists in the air, water, soil, and the biosphere. Most rocks and many minerals, as well as humans, plants, and animals, contain zinc in varying amounts. In fact, approximately 5.8 million tons of zinc are naturally cycled through the environment annually by plant and animal life, rainfall, natural phenomena, and other activity.
You encounter this metal every day, plus your body needs it to survive. Here is everything you ever wanted to know about…ZINC!
FAST FACTS!
When used in sunscreen products, Zinc Oxide acts as a physical block to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, helping to reduce or prevent sunburn and premature aging of the skin. Preventing sunburn is an important factor in reducing skin cancer risk.
Zinc is essential for your body’s health. Some of the weirdest side effects of zinc deficiency involve abnormalities of smell and taste, because the metal is crucial to these processes.
As an alloy, brass is the product of mixing zinc with copper. As it turns out, the end-product really is more than the sum of its parts. For example, an instrument of pure copper would produce a “dead” sound and lack flash. Brass, on the other hand, possesses rich tones and sound that its parent metal cannot approach, which is why many musicians swear by brass instruments.
The amount of zinc present in the natural environment varies from place to place and from season to season. Wind and water carry minute amounts of zinc to lakes, rivers, and the sea, where it collects as sediment or is transported further. For example, falling leaves in autumn lead to a seasonal increase in zinc levels in soil and water.
Zinc is recyclable. More than one-third of the zinc consumed in North America is produced from recycled material. Over 2 million tons of zinc are recycled annually. Zinc can be recycled again and again and still maintain its properties. This means that zinc can be recycled forever.
HISTORY
Centuries before zinc was discovered in the metallic form, its ores were used for making brass and zinc compounds for medicinal purposes. Zinc compounds were in the ores smelted as early as 200 B.C. to obtain copper which gave alloys of copper and zinc – the brass family. The Romans were major users of brass. The Greeks also appeared to know zinc, even if not by name.
An ancient idol, containing 87.5% zinc, found in prehistoric ruins in Transylvania in Eastern Europe is the oldest known zinc object. Zinc-filled silver bracelets dating back to 500 B.C. have been found on the island of Rhodes, and the Romans used a zinc alloy to fabricate coins.
Some credit India with developing the first knowledge of true zinc smelting while others attribute its discovery to the Chinese. The production of metallic zinc occurred much later than other common metals. Copper was smelted from its ores around 5000 B.C., lead about 4000 B.C. and iron about 2000 B.C., while zinc appears to have become available on a commercial scale in the 14th century A.D.
In Europe, zinc probably became first known through its import from India and China. Zinc was recognized in Europe as a separate metal in the 16th century when Agricola (1490 – 1555) and Paracelsus (1493 – 1541) wrote of a metal called “zincum.”
In 1668, a Flemish metallurgist, P. Moras de Respour, reported the extraction of metallic zinc from zinc oxide, but as far as Europe was concerned zinc was discovered by the German chemist Andreas Marggraf in 1746, and indeed he was the first to recognise it as a new metal.
Commercial smelting of zinc began in Europe in the middle of the 18th century when the first European zinc smelter was established in Bristol in the United Kingdom using a vertical retort procedure. But the real advent of modern techniques dates from the introduction of the horizontal retort process in the early 19th century. In 1836 hot-dip galvanizing – the oldest anti-corrosion process – was introduced in France. Zinc smelting in the United States started in 1850s.
USES OF ZINC
Zinc has many uses. It is the 4th most common metal for industry, after iron, aluminum, and copper. More than half of all zinc that is mined is used for galvanizing other metals such as steel and iron. Galvanizing is when these other metals are coated with a thin coating of zinc in order to prevent them from corroding or rusting.
Zinc is also used to form alloys with other metals. Brass, an alloy made with copper and zinc, has been used since ancient times. Other alloys include nickel silver, zinc aluminum, and cadmium zinc telluride. They are used for a variety of applications including pipe organs, die-casting for auto parts, and sensing devices.
Zinc oxide is widely used in the manufacture of many products such as paints, rubber, cosmetics, sun block, pharmaceuticals, plastics, inks, soaps, batteries, textiles and electrical equipment. Zinc sulfide is used in making luminous paints, fluorescent lights and x-ray screens.
ZINC AND YOUR HEALTH
Zinc is an essential mineral for human health. It is the second most abundant metal in the body, after iron. Zinc, from foods like lean meat and seafood, helps your immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses, is important for white blood cell formation, egg fertilization, cell division, and a host of other enzymatic reactions.
Your body needs zinc to make proteins and DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Zinc also helps wounds heal and is important for proper senses of taste and smell.
Zinc supplements, made from mined zinc, save hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Nearly a third of the world’s population suffers from zinc-related malnutrition so mining companies and UNICEF work together to provide millions of zinc supplements to children in places like Africa.
HOW WAS ZINC FORMED?
Zinc is a bluish-white shiny metal that is fragile at room temperature, but becomes malleable at 100 degrees Celsius. Zinc is one of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust. It is found in soil, air, and water and is present in food.
Zinc metal has never been found naturally. The great majority of zinc deposits contain the lead mineral, galena, and both the lead and zinc minerals are mined together. Other metals that are found with zinc are silver and copper. Zinc-Copper ores could be smelted into brass. Zinc also exists as a variety of salts and combines with other elements, such as chlorine, oxygen, and sulphur, to form zinc compounds.
Zinc is not only mined here on Earth but can be the by-product of cosmic events: when a star turns supernova and explodes, essentially, dying, it releases minerals, including zinc.
HOW IS ZINC MINED?
Commercial production of zinc did not start in Europe until the middle of the 18th century and in the United States until 1860.
The zinc mining process is conducted primarily underground, with more than 80 percent of all zinc extracted beneath the Earth’s surface. Eight percent of zinc is mined in open pits, with the remaining 12 percent being mined through both methods.
Once it’s removed from the earth, it goes through a smelting process. Zinc smelting is the process of converting zinc concentrates (ores that contain zinc) into pure zinc. Zinc smelting has historically been more difficult than the smelting of other metals, e.g. iron, because in contrast, zinc has a low boiling point. At temperatures typically used for smelting metals, zinc is a gas that will escape from a furnace with the flue gas and be lost, unless specific measures are taken to prevent it.
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The most common zinc concentrate processed is zinc sulfide, which is obtained by concentrating sphalerite using the froth flotation method. Secondary (recycled) zinc material, such as zinc oxide, is also processed with the zinc sulfide. Approximately 30% of all zinc produced is from recycled sources.
ZINC IN NOVA SCOTIA
In 2016, Canada produced 322,000 tonnes of zinc from mines located in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Here in Nova Scotia there are many known occurences of zinc, including the Gays River deposit, which was initially discovered in 1973, and developed as a mine in 1978/79. Initial production focused on mining high grade zinc-lead mineralization by underground methods. In April 2006, the mine was re-engineered as an open pit operation.
There are also known zinc occurrences in Cape Breton, Halifax County, Guysborough County and Yarmouth County.
The zinc deposit in Gays River, Nova Scotia. (Photo credit: The Chronicle Herald)
ZINC AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Zinc Energy
Zinc is a key ingredient in rechargeable batteries.
For over 100 years, zinc has been known to be a good source of energy. Zinc batteries have been used for many decades. Zinc-carbon batteries are the longest established primary battery type and are common in applications such as remote controls, flashlights, toys and electronics. Zinc-chloride batteries are an improved version of the zinc-carbon cells; they have a longer life and a steadier voltage output.
Advantages of Zinc Energy
Rechargeable: Nickel-zinc and silver-zinc batteries are rechargeable. Advances are being made to develop rechargeable zinc-air batteries.
Zero emission: Zinc energy storage systems can power hearing aids, vehicles, stationary, computers and other electronic appliances 100% free of emissions.
Recyclable: Zinc can be fully recycled without loss of properties and quality and can be re-used in applications and products.
Sustainable: Rechargeable, recyclable and clean are important aspects which contribute to a sustainable future.
