Abstract
The economics of primary lead and zinc production are influenced by geological attributes of deposits and geographical factors such as access to transport infrastructure and markets. Characteristics of deposit types such as SEDEX, VMS, CRD and MVT influence both revenue and costs. Resulting mine economics are reviewed with focus on Australia, Canada, USA and Europe. Mine development and depletion and changes in smelting due to tightening environmental standards and changing concentrate availability are reviewed for the last 25 years. This includes major changes in smelting flowsheets to adapt to feedstock supply shifts. Changes in industry structure including consolidation, changes in vertical integration and the rise of Chinese production are examined. The role of byproduct recovery, particularly silver, on economics of both mines and smelters is reviewed. A future outlook on lead-zinc industry structure in Australia, Canada, USA and Europe to 2040 is included.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
