Minerals and Zinc Ores

Sphalerite or zinc blende (figure M47) is a yellow, brown, or black mineral (Zn,Ee)S. It often contains manganese, arsenic, cadmium and other elements. It is a widely distributed ore of zinc, commonly associated with galena PbS in veins and other deposits. Sphalerite is the principal ore mineral for zinc in the world. 

Calamine is a name often used for the oxidized ores of zinc, silicates and carbonates. In Great Britain the term is used for smithsonite. 

Smithsonite ZnCOj is an ore of zinc, associated with sphalerite. As a mineral it is white to yellow, gray, brown, or greenish. 

Willemite Zn SiO i varies in color from white to brown and it exhibits a bright-yellow fluorescence in ultraviolet light. It is a minor ore of zinc. 

Zinc ores occur as a rule together with ores of other metals, mainly lead, copper, silver and other noble metals. In addition, cadmium is found in all zinc ores with an average content of about 0.3% Cd (counted with reference to zinc). This leads to the production of 3 kg of cadmium for every toruie of zinc produced [33.4]. 

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