Short Essay on Zinc in India
Zinc is a mixed ore containing lead and zinc. Its chief ore is zinc sulphite. But it is also obtained from calomire, zincite, wilemute and hemi-morphite. It is found in veins with association with galena, Chalcophyrites, iron pyrites and other sulphide ores.
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The largest use of zinc in India is in the manufacture of galvanized iron sheets. It is also used for dry batleries white pigments, electrodes, textiles, die-casting, rubber industires and making collapsable tubes containing drugs, pastes and the like.
Production and Distribution:
Lead-Zinc resources are located in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and Sikkim. Total in situ reserves (all grades) of lead and zinc ores are 231 million tonnes comprising metal content of 5.1 million tonnes of lead and 17.02 million tonnes of zinc metal. During the year 2010-11 the production of lead that of Zinc concentrate at 1420 thousand tonnes should an increase of 10.96% over the previous year.
Rajasthan:
In India, the known resources of zinc ore are rather limited as there is one commercially exploitable deposit in Zawar near Udaipur in Rajasthan. It comprises Mochia Mogra, Balaria, Zawarmala, Baroi and Bawa hills area; Rajpura Dariba area of Rajsamand district and Rampura-Agucha area of Bhilwara district. The Zawar ores geologically belong to the class of metasomatic replacements, an Aravalli limestone being replaced by the sulphides and carbonate of lead and zinc by the process of molecular replacements.
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Others:
The zinc smelters are situated at Chanderiya in Chittorgarh district at Debari, Udaipur, districts of Rajasthan and at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 55% of the total zinc consumption is by the galvanizing industry followed by dry battery sector (24%), zinc alloys (10%). The production of zinc in India is too small as compared to her needs. About 75% of her requirements are met by imports, mainly from Zaire, Canada, Australia and Russia.