Zinc is a versatile mineral that we encounter in our daily lives. Zinc is found in a variety of products including zinc creams, sunblocks and vitamins. However, zinc is primarily used for the galvanizing of steel, for die-castings and in the production of brass and zinc oxides.

Did you know? – The largest zinc mine in the world is the Red Dog Mine operated by Cominco Alaska Inc. and is located in Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle.

Health - Zinc is essential to both our physical and mental health. From healthy skin, hair and nails, to muscle, nerve and brain functions, zinc plays a key role. Teeth, bones, the healing process, and the immune and reproduction systems are all dependent on a sufficient amount of zinc in our bodies.

Transportation – Zinc castings, which have excellent dimensional stability, are used in everything from automobiles and electronic components to children’s toys. Zinc components can be large, such as truck axle tubes or so small that they are barely visible and weigh only a fraction of an ounce. Today’s automobiles contain about 40 pounds of zinc, primarily in the zinc coating on galvanized steel body panels. The delicate instrument panels in today’s jet airliners are fabricated from zinc. And today’s ship builders use zinc anodes to protect the steel hulls of ships against the highly corrosive effects of salt water.

Home Furnishings – Your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer are just a few of the labor-saving devices in your home that contain a host of zinc die-cast components. Zinc sulfide enables your TV picture tube to display blue and green. Zinc is alloyed with copper to form brass, which increases the strength and castability, and imparts an appealing golden color.

Outside Your Home – Builders depend on the structural strength and corrosion resistance of zinc-coated (galvanized) steel. Products include structural framing, railings, garage doors, roofing, pre-painted exterior wall panels and zinc-protected fastening devices, such as screws, nails and brackets. In your yard, such everyday functional and recreational items as garbage cans, swing sets, fences and gates, garden tools, patio furniture, storage sheds, cutters and swimming pools all contain zinc, the one metal that assures maximum rust protection.

Did you know? – Zinc is called the Great Protector – it is used to protect metals (galvanizing) as well as humans, in products such as sun screen (zinc oxide), zinc lozenges, or vitamins.

Did you know? – Since 1982 U.S. minted "copper" pennies have actually been 97.6 percent zinc, with just a 2.4 percent copper coating.

Zinc Fact – In 1996, an estimated 355,000 tons of zinc in waste and scrap was recovered in the form of slab zinc, brass, zinc-base alloys, dust, oxide, and other chemicals.

Zinc’s Future – One of zinc’s major advantages is that it is recyclable. In North America alone, approximately one third of the zinc consumed annually comes from recycled material. The zinc industry is firmly committed to increasing that ratio, further reducing the requirements for virgin ores, energy, air and water.