Losses of Zinc in Mining, Milling and Smelting

INTRODUCTION A GREAT DEAL of attention has recently been given to the metallurgy of zinc, and much of that which has been said and written on this subject has been in the nature of a criticism. For instance, we are quite accustomed to hearing it said that the metallurgy of zinc has stood still, that it is antiquated, out of date, etc. We are, however, inclined to agree With George C. Stone1 When he says that, although there have been no such spectacular and radical changes as Were worked in the metallurgy of copper and iron by the introduction of converters, there has nevertheless been a decided and marked progress in the metallurgy of zinc, and especially during recent years. However, it must be admitted that, due to the fact that the chemistry of zinc is so different from that of the other metals, the retort process is the only process by which zinc is produced commercially; and, moreover, that losses which occur in the zinc industry-that is, in the mining, milling, and smelting of zinc ore-are very great, for it is stated' that probably less than 50 per cent. of the zinc mined, even