Lead, Zinc and Pyrites
Geography › Mineral and Energy Resources · Topic 21.7
Lead and zinc usually occur together in sulphide ores, galena for lead and sphalerite for zinc, and are mined together. Zinc is used to galvanise steel against rust and to make brass; lead is used in storage batteries. Pyrites are iron sulphides that yield sulphur for sulphuric acid. In India almost all lead and zinc ore comes from Rajasthan, at Zawar, Rampura Agucha, Rajpura Dariba and Sindesar Khurd, mined mainly by Hindustan Zinc.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Mineral and Energy Resources
At a Glance
- Lead ore Galena, lead sulphide
- Zinc ore Sphalerite, zinc sulphide
- Chief state Rajasthan, nearly all production
- Largest mine Rampura Agucha, Bhilwara
- Pyrites use Sulphur and sulphuric acid
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Mineral and Energy Resources
Where Does It Fit?
This is the seventh topic of the macro on mineral and energy resources. The previous topic covered bauxite and aluminium, and this one moves to two other non-ferrous metals and a sulphur ore. The next topic covers copper Indian gold mine Hutti in Raichur, Karnataka…">gold and silver. Previous topic: Bauxite and Aluminium. Next topic: Gold and Silver.
What Are Lead and Zinc, and Where Are They Used?
| Metal | Ore | Features and uses |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | Galena (lead sulphide) | Heavy, soft, corrosion-resistant, with a low melting point; used in lead-acid storage batteries, which take most of the world’s lead, in radiation shielding, cable sheathing, solder and alloys; paints and petrol with lead have been phased out because of toxicity |
| Zinc | Sphalerite or zinc blende (zinc sulphide) | Bluish-white, resists corrosion; used to galvanise iron and steel, to make brass with copper, in die-casting alloys, batteries and in medicines and fertiliser |
| Pyrites | Iron sulphide (iron pyrites, called fool’s gold) | A source of sulphur for sulphuric acid, used in fertilisers, chemicals, dyes and explosives |
The sulphide ores of lead and zinc are formed by hot, mineral-rich fluids in veins and in sedimentary rocks, and they usually contain silver and cadmium also, which are recovered as by-products. The ore is crushed and concentrated by flotation, and then smelted. Zinc can be recovered by roasting and electrolysis, and both metals are widely recycled.
Where Are Lead and Zinc Mined?
- World: China, Australia, Peru, the United States, Mexico and India are the leading producers of zinc and lead, and Australia, China and Russia have large reserves.
- Rajasthan: almost all of India’s output comes from here, in the Aravalli belt. The Zawar mines near Udaipur have been worked since ancient times, and the region is known for early zinc smelting by distillation, one of the oldest in the world. The Rampura Agucha mine in Bhilwara is the largest and among the world’s biggest zinc-lead mines, and Rajpura Dariba (Rajsamand), Sindesar Khurd (Rajsamand) and Kayad (Ajmer) are the other main mines.
- Other states: Andhra Pradesh (Agnigundala, Guntur), Gujarat (Ambaji), Odisha and Sikkim have small or undeveloped deposits.
- Smelters: Hindustan Zinc, once public and now majority owned by Vedanta, runs smelters at Chanderiya (Chittorgarh), Debari (Udaipur) and Dariba (Rajsamand), and the Visakhapatnam zinc smelter was run on imported concentrate.
India has large resources of zinc and lead ore, but reserves of high grade are limited, and production is mostly of zinc, with lead as a smaller output. India imports refined lead and part of the zinc and recycles scrap, particularly from batteries. Production has risen with the expansion of the Hindustan Zinc mines underground, as in Mining and Quarrying.
What About Pyrites and Sulphur?
- Source: India has modest pyrites resources, at Amjhore in Rohtas district, Bihar, Saladipura in Sikar district, Rajasthan, and a few other areas such as Chitradurga in Karnataka and Sikkim.
- Use: most of the sulphur for sulphuric acid, the fertiliser industry’s basic chemical for phosphate fertilisers, is now obtained as a by-product of oil refineries and gas processing or imported, because domestic pyrites are of lower grade and Amjhore is of limited use.
- Link to other industries: sulphuric acid is used in fertilisers, steel pickling, chemicals, batteries and the treatment of metal ores.
As an analytical point, lead and zinc show how a mineral’s value comes from its place in an industrial chain. Zinc protects steel in construction and automobiles, lead serves energy storage and vehicles, and both have recycling potential, so policy rests on securing ore through exploration, encouraging recycling and managing the environmental risks of lead, a toxic heavy metal, around smelters and recycling units. The Aravalli mining belt is also a dry region, so water use and the disposal of tailings, the fine waste left after concentrating the ore, are the main local concerns, and workers’ exposure to lead dust and silicosis needs regular health monitoring. Underground mining at depth, backfilling of mined-out spaces with tailings, and the recovery of silver as a valuable by-product are the features that make the Rajasthan mines among the most efficient in the world.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Ores and mines asked
- Map-based Rajasthan mines
- Link Steel and fertiliser
What Came Next?
The next topic describes gold and silver. Next topic: Gold and Silver.
Key People and Terms
- Galena Lead sulphide ore
- Sphalerite Zinc sulphide ore
- Galvanising Zinc coating on steel
- Flotation Ore concentration method
- Pyrites Iron sulphide
- Hindustan Zinc Main Indian producer
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Galena is lead; sphalerite is zinc.
- Rajasthan produces nearly all lead and zinc.
- Zawar is an ancient zinc mining area.
- Rampura Agucha is the largest mine.
- Pyrites supply sulphur.
Do Not Confuse With
- Galena and sphalerite Lead ore versus zinc ore
- Galvanising and plating Zinc coating by dipping versus other coatings
- Pyrites and gold Iron sulphide, called fool’s gold
Memory Hook
Galena for lead, sphalerite for zinc; the Aravallis of Rajasthan yield them from Zawar to Agucha.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about distribution and importance. These points add depth.
- Pattern Aravalli concentration
- Use Steel protection and batteries
- Issue Toxicity and recycling
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Describe the distribution of lead and zinc in India and discuss the uses of these metals.”
How to Answer
- Ores Galena and sphalerite.
- Uses Galvanising, batteries.
- Places Rajasthan mines.
- Issues Toxicity and recycling.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the main ores of lead and zinc?
The main ore of lead is galena, a lead sulphide, and the main ore of zinc is sphalerite, also called zinc blende, a zinc sulphide. The two often occur together in the same deposit, along with silver and cadmium, so they are mined and processed together.
Which state produces the most lead and zinc in India?
Rajasthan produces almost all of India's lead and zinc ore, from the Aravalli belt. The principal mines are Rampura Agucha in Bhilwara, Rajpura Dariba and Sindesar Khurd in Rajsamand, and the ancient mines at Zawar near Udaipur, mostly operated by Hindustan Zinc.
What are the uses of zinc?
Zinc is used mainly to galvanise iron and steel, giving it a coating that prevents rusting. It is also alloyed with copper to make brass, used in die-casting alloys, in batteries and in fertilisers, medicines and rubber. Zinc is also widely recycled from scrap.
What is the use of lead?
Lead is used mainly in lead-acid batteries for vehicles and backup power. It is also used in cable sheathing, solder, radiation shields and alloys. Its use in paint and petrol has been reduced because lead is a toxic heavy metal that harms health, particularly of children.
What is pyrites used for?
Pyrites are iron sulphide minerals used as a source of sulphur to make sulphuric acid, which is needed for fertilisers, chemicals and dyes. India has pyrites at Amjhore in Bihar and Saladipura in Rajasthan, but most sulphur is now taken from refineries or imported.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Galena is the principal ore of lead.
It is lead sulphide.
2 Zinc is used to galvanise steel.
The coating prevents rusting.
3 Most of India's zinc comes from Rajasthan.
From the Aravalli belt mines.
4 Pyrites are an important ore of aluminium.
They are iron sulphide, used for sulphur.
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