512
L. Reemeyer
Table 3 Lead and zinc smelter closures in North America, Europe and Australia since 2003 [6]
Name
Country
Metal
Process
Capacity
Year closed
Cockle Creek
Australia Pb–Zn ISP
90,000 tpa Zn,
35,000 tpa Pb
2003
Kidd
Canada
Zn
Electrolytic
145,000 tpa Zn
2010
Big River Zinc USA
Zn
Electrolytic
90,00 tpa Zn
2006
Herculaneum
USA
Pb
Sinter plant blast
furnace
115,000 tpa Pb
2013
Avonmouth
UK
Pb–Zn ISP
90,000 tpa Zn,
35,000 tpa Pb
2003
Duisburg
Germany Pb–Zn ISP
100,000 tpa Zn,
35,000 Pb
2005
Ruhr Zink
Germany Zn
Electrolytic
140,000 tpa Zn
2008
Industry Structure
Around 2000, the industry structure of lead and zinc mining industry in North America, Europe and Australia included several major vertically integrated companies
(Table 4). In the 1990’s, vertical integration strategies by MIM and Pasminco had
focused on acquiring smelters compatible with concentrates produced from the major
McArthur River and Century mines. Pasminco sold the Avonmouth ISF smelter to
MIM to allow treatment of McArthur River bulk concentrates and purchased the
Budel smelter in the Netherlands as it was compatible with the low iron, low residue
forming Century concentrates.
Major waves of consolidation occurred from 2002 to 2013, including:
• Xstrata acquiring MIM and Falconbridge to form a major vertically integrated zinc
and lead mining, smelting and refining company, with subsequent acquisition by
Glencore
• Zinc asset swaps between Outokumpu and New Boliden in Europe resulting in
Boliden controlling vertically integrated zinc assets in Europe
• Pasminco refloating as Zinifex, offloading mines in NSW, Australia and then splitting off its smelting business into Nyrstar in conjunction with Umicore’s European
zinc smelters
• The breakup of former Zinifex, with sale of Australian zinc mining assets to
Chinese controlled MMG
• Acquisition of Breakwater Resources (incorporating several North American zinc
mines) by Nyrstar
• Sale of Anglo American zinc assets to Hudbay and Vedanta
• Partial float of precious metals rich mining operations by Penoles into Fresnillo
PLC.
In addition, Teck and Glencore now hold significant zinc mining assets in Peru (e.g.
stakes in Antamina mine), which provide feed to their smelters in North America. In
L. Reemeyer
Table 3 Lead and zinc smelter closures in North America, Europe and Australia since 2003 [6]
Name
Country
Metal
Process
Capacity
Year closed
Cockle Creek
Australia Pb–Zn ISP
90,000 tpa Zn,
35,000 tpa Pb
2003
Kidd
Canada
Zn
Electrolytic
145,000 tpa Zn
2010
Big River Zinc USA
Zn
Electrolytic
90,00 tpa Zn
2006
Herculaneum
USA
Pb
Sinter plant blast
furnace
115,000 tpa Pb
2013
Avonmouth
UK
Pb–Zn ISP
90,000 tpa Zn,
35,000 tpa Pb
2003
Duisburg
Germany Pb–Zn ISP
100,000 tpa Zn,
35,000 Pb
2005
Ruhr Zink
Germany Zn
Electrolytic
140,000 tpa Zn
2008
Industry Structure
Around 2000, the industry structure of lead and zinc mining industry in North America, Europe and Australia included several major vertically integrated companies
(Table 4). In the 1990’s, vertical integration strategies by MIM and Pasminco had
focused on acquiring smelters compatible with concentrates produced from the major
McArthur River and Century mines. Pasminco sold the Avonmouth ISF smelter to
MIM to allow treatment of McArthur River bulk concentrates and purchased the
Budel smelter in the Netherlands as it was compatible with the low iron, low residue
forming Century concentrates.
Major waves of consolidation occurred from 2002 to 2013, including:
• Xstrata acquiring MIM and Falconbridge to form a major vertically integrated zinc
and lead mining, smelting and refining company, with subsequent acquisition by
Glencore
• Zinc asset swaps between Outokumpu and New Boliden in Europe resulting in
Boliden controlling vertically integrated zinc assets in Europe
• Pasminco refloating as Zinifex, offloading mines in NSW, Australia and then splitting off its smelting business into Nyrstar in conjunction with Umicore’s European
zinc smelters
• The breakup of former Zinifex, with sale of Australian zinc mining assets to
Chinese controlled MMG
• Acquisition of Breakwater Resources (incorporating several North American zinc
mines) by Nyrstar
• Sale of Anglo American zinc assets to Hudbay and Vedanta
• Partial float of precious metals rich mining operations by Penoles into Fresnillo
PLC.
In addition, Teck and Glencore now hold significant zinc mining assets in Peru (e.g.
stakes in Antamina mine), which provide feed to their smelters in North America. In