Zinc

Symbol	Zn

This is a short overview. For the background — history, value over time and notable mines — see Zinc →

Occurs in: Hydrothermal Deposits, Veins and Lodes →

A bluish-white metal, worked chiefly from sphalerite ('zinc blende') ore by crushing, dressing and smelting or roasting. Used mainly for galvanising steel against corrosion, and in brass alloys.

Mines

Show these mines on the map

Mine	Region	Worked
Ballacorkish Mine	Isle of Man	Before 1819–1895
Barrow Mine	Cumbria	By the 1680s–1889
Blackcraig Lead Mines	Dumfries and Galloway	1763–1917
Bog Mine	Shropshire	1730s–1924
Brownley Hill Mine	Cumbria	worked from the early 1700s–1966
Burgham Mine	Shropshire	to 1893 (abandonment plan)
Bwlch Glas Mine	Ceredigion	1880s–1923
Bwlchgwyn Mine	Ceredigion	From 1735–Early 20th century
Caplecleugh Mine	Cumbria	1754–1914 (further stoping to 1918)
Carrs Mine	Cumbria	By 1679–Early 1940s
Carshield Mine	Northumberland	1770s–1913
Coalcleugh	Northumberland	17th century–1878
Cobscar Mill	North Yorkshire	1762–c. 1830
Consolidated Mines	Cornwall	1782–1870
Cwm Elan Mine	Powys	1796 (discovery)–September 1877
Cwm Rheidol Mine	Ceredigion	1698–1917
Cwmystwyth Mines	Ceredigion	Bronze Age–1950
Dirtlow Rake Mine	Derbyshire	at least 17th century–20th century
Dowgang Mine	Cumbria	By 1773–By 1902
Driggith Mine	Cumbria	17th or 18th century–1940s
Dylife	Powys	1640–1901
Eagle Crag Mine	Cumbria	By 1784–1876
East Wheal Rose	Cornwall	1812 (discovery)–1886
Ecton Copper Mines	Staffordshire	Bronze Age–1891
Erglodd Mine	Ceredigion	Late 18th century–c. 1883
Esgair Mwyn Mine	Ceredigion	1746–1994
Force Crag Mine	Cumbria	1839–1990
Fowey Consols	Cornwall	1813–1867
Foxdale Mines	Isle of Man	1724–1911
Frongoch Mine	Ceredigion	1792–1910
Glen Rushen Mines	Isle of Man	1831–1879
Gravel Hill Mine	Cornwall	By 1728 (c. 1840 by one account)–1882
Great Laxey Mine	Isle of Man	1780s–1929
Green Hurth Mine	County Durham	1799 (lease)–1902
Hafan Mine	Ceredigion	c. 1620–1889–90
Hafna Mine	Conwy	to about 1915
Halkyn Mountain	Flintshire	Bronze Age–1987
Hendre Mine	Flintshire	From 1931–1977 (lead)
Hudgill Burn Mine	Cumbria	By 1804–1870
Killhope Lead Mine	County Durham	1818–1910
Llywernog Mine	Ceredigion	1742 (vein discovered)–1891 (lead)
Loggerheads	Denbighshire	worked from at least the 18th century–19th century
Longtor Mines	Derbyshire	from Post-medieval
Meliden Lead Mines	Denbighshire	Worked from at least the 1630s–1905
Middlecleugh Mine	Cumbria	After 1758–By 1920
Millclose Mine	Derbyshire	17th century–1940
Milldam Mine	Derbyshire	1885–October 2023
Milwr Tunnel	Flintshire	July 1897–1977
Minera Lead Mines	Wrexham	13th century–1914
Myers Head Mine	Cumbria	c. 1866–Late 1870s
Nangiles Mine	Cornwall	by 1808–1915
Nantiago Mine	Powys	before 1846–c.1918
Nantymwyn Mine	Carmarthenshire	1747–1932
Nenthead Mines	Cumbria	1737–1961
Nentsberry Haggs Mine	Cumbria	19th century–1938
Nentsbury Mine	Cumbria	to 108
New Glencrieff Mine	Dumfries and Galloway	1718–1958
North Laxey Mine	Isle of Man	1856–1897
Pandora Mine	Conwy	From around 1868–1931
Parc Mine	Conwy	1855–1963
Parys Mountain	Anglesey	Bronze Age–1904
Pen-y-Bryn Mine	Flintshire	By 1899–1957 (ore winding ended)
Penlee Quarry	Cornwall	1879–1991
Penrhiw Mine	Ceredigion	c. 1727–1882
Rampgill Mine	Cumbria	1690 (Rampgill Vein discovered)–1949
Roughton Gill Mine	Cumbria	12th century (earliest possible)–17th century
Sandbed Mine	Cumbria	18th century–1966
Scraithole Mine	Northumberland	By the 19th century–1981
Smallcleugh Mine	Cumbria	c.1770–c.1900
Snaefell Mine	Isle of Man	1856–1908
Snailbeach Mine	Shropshire	1781–1955
Strontian Mines	Highland	1725–1991
Swinhope Mine	Northumberland	1809–1960s
Talargoch Mine	Flintshire	From 1303–1884 (underground)
Tankerville Mine	Shropshire	From early 19th century–1911-13
Thornthwaite Mine	Cumbria	1780s–Around 1920-21
Thorswood Mines	Staffordshire	from Late 17th century
Threlkeld Quarry and Mine	Cumbria	1870–1982
Trelogan Mine	Flintshire	c. 1694–1911
Tyddyn Gwladys Mine	Gwynedd	Before 1862 (lead and zinc)–1887-89
Tyndrum Mines	Stirling	1741 (vein discovered)–1926
Van Mine	Powys	1862–1922
Wanlockhead	Dumfries and Galloway	13th century–1934
West Chiverton Mine	Cornwall	1846–1886
Wheal Baddon	Cornwall	1842–1872
Wheal Betsy	Devon	1740–1877
Wheal Ellen	Cornwall	c. 1826–1862 (reworking tried 1866 and 1907)
Wheal Fortune	Cornwall	1855–1912
Wheal Jane	Cornwall	1861–1991
Yewthwaite Mine	Cumbria	1849–1893
Ystrad Einion Mine	Ceredigion	18th century–1903
Ystumtuen Mine	Ceredigion	Working by 1698–1882