Zinc, the metal primarily used in the galvanizing process which protects iron and steel from rusting, may be facing a supply shortage as Europe has lost about half of its zinc and aluminum smelting capacity within the past year.
Market analyst Fitch forecasts that global mined zinc production will grow moderately in 2022 as high prices encourage miners to expand output.
Mining Intelligence data show the top ten zinc projects in the world based on resources and reserves and measured in million tonnes (Mt).
#1 Selwyn / Development Status: Feasibility / Commodity Exposure: Lead, Zinc
The Selwyn zinc project in Canada's Yukon Territory, owned by China's Yunnan Chihong Zinc and Germanium leads by a longshot, with 19.2 million tonnes (Mt) in resources and reserves.
#2 Admiral Bay / Development Status: Prefeasibility / Commodity Exposure: Barite, Lead, Silver, Zinc
Metalicity's Admiral Bay zinc project in Australia comes in at number two, holding 7 Mt of the metal in resources and reserves.
#3 Reward / Development Status: Advanced Exploration / Commodity Exposure: Lead, Zinc
Teck Resources' Reward project, also in Australia, is in third place, with 6.6 Mt of reserves and resources.
#4 Hermosa / Development Status: Prefeasibility / Commodity Exposure: Copper, Gold, Lead, Manganese, Silver, Zinc
The Hermosa project in Arizona, owned by Australian miner South32 takes fourth place, with 6.5 Mt of zinc.
#5 Big Syncline / Development Status: Advanced Exploration / Commodity Exposure: Lead, Zinc
The Big Syncline project in South Africa, owned by India's Vendata Resources, is in fifth place, with 4.64 Mt of zinc in resources and reserves.
#6 Bahuerachi / Development Status: Advanced Exploration / Commodity Exposure: Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, Silver, Zinc
Coming in sixth place is Jinchuan Group's Bahuerachi project in Mexico, with 4.63 Mt in resources and reserves.
#7 Kipushi / Development Status: Feasibility / Commodity Exposure: Cobalt, Copper, Germanium, Lead, Silver, Zinc
Canadian miner Ivanhoe's Kipushi project in the Democratic Republic of Congo is in seventh place, with 4.5 Mt of zinc.
#8 Citronen Fjord / Development Status: Feasibility / Commodity Exposure: Lead, Zinc
Ironbark Zinc's Citronen Fjord project in Greenland is number eight, holding 4 Mt of reserves and resources.
#9 Colquipucro-Ayawilca-Silvia / Development Status: Preliminary Economic Assessment / Commodity Exposure: Copper, Gold, Indium, Lead, Silver, Tin, Zinc
Tinka Resouces' Colquipucro-Ayawilca-Silvia project in Peru is in ninth place, with 3.9 Mt in reserves and resources.
#10 Hackett River / Development Status: Prefeasibility / Commodity Exposure: Copper, Gold, Lead, Silver, Zinc
Rounding out the list is the Hackett River project in Nunavut, majority owned by Glencore, with 3.7 Mt of zinc.
Download the Miningintelligence data here.