Lead: When mixed with tin, it forms a rust-resisting coating for steel. Its resistance to corrosion makes it exceptionally valuable for plumbing fixtures, storage batteries and for cable.
The countries producing lead are Australia, U.S.A, Mexico, Canada and Peru. Australia produced 375 thousand metric tons against the world total of 2080 thousand tons in 1988.
The U.S.A produced 288 thousand metric tons of lead ore in 1985. In Canada the foremost lead-producing area is British Columbia producing 95 per cent of Canada's total production. Canada produced 270 thousand metric tons of lead ore in 1988.
India produced about 5 thousand metric tons of lead ore in 1988. The Zawar mines in Udaipur district of Rajasthan are the only significant producer of lead ore in India. Lead ore deposits are known to exist at Agnigundala in Andhra Pradesh and Sargipalle in Orissa.
Zinc: Though zinc may occur with various minerals, the ores of commercial value are chiefly sulphides, of which Sphalerite is the most important. It is used in galvanized roofing and siding sheets, wire fence, pails etc.
It is found in association with ores of other metals, especially lead. So zinc producing districts coincide with lead producing areas.
U.S.A, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Japan are the principal zinc producing countries in the world.
In Europe, zinc ore is mined on a fairly large scale in Germany, Poland, Italy and Kosovo. The most important centre is in Upper Silesia.
India produced 6.5 thousand metric tons of zinc ore in 1988. Production comes from the Zawar mines of Rajasthan and Arcot districts of Tamil Nadu.
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