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Zinc sulfide (or zinc sulphide) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula of ZnS. This is the main form of zinc found in nature, where it mainly occurs as the mineral sphalerite . Although this mineral is usually black because of various impurities, the pure material is white, and it is widely used as a pigment.
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 .
World-wide distribution of MVT deposits (red), clastic sediment-hosted (green), and unclassified (blue) lead-zinc deposits. Source: USGS. Carbonate-hosted lead-zinc ore deposits are important and highly valuable concentrations of lead and zinc sulfide ores hosted within carbonate (limestone, marl, dolomite) formations and which share a common genetic origin.
Sphalerite is a sulfide mineral with the chemical formula (Zn, Fe)S. [5] It is the most important ore of zinc.Sphalerite is found in a variety of deposit types, but it is primarily in sedimentary exhalative, Mississippi-Valley type, and volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits.
Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) are responsible for almost a quarter of the world's zinc production while contributing for lead, silver and copper as well. VMS deposits tend to be of great size since they form over a long period of time and have a relatively high grade in valuable minerals.
Zinc fluxes between the lithosphere and biosphere, through basins in soil, biomass, water systems, and industry. [1] Estimated fluxes are shown as labeled arrows in Gg/year. The zinc cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that transports zinc through the lithosphere , hydrosphere , and biosphere .
After being exposed to air and water, oxidation of metal sulfides (often pyrite, which is iron-sulfide) within the surrounding rock and overburden generates acidity. Colonies of bacteria and archaea greatly accelerate the decomposition of metal ions, although the reactions also occur in an abiotic environment.
Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits, also known as VMS ore deposits, are a type of metal sulfide ore deposit, mainly copper-zinc which are associated with and produced by volcanic-associated hydrothermal vents in submarine environments. [2] [3] [4] These deposits are also sometimes called volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits