Skorpion Zinc
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Skorpion Zinc is the 8th largest Zinc mine in the world, producing Special High Grade (SHG) Zinc. It is owned and operated by Anglo American as part of the Anglo Base Metals division.
Skorpion is located in southwest Namibia, near the town of Rosh Pinah.
Skorpion is a unique mine in several ways. Firstly, it is a supergene zinc ore body composed of alluvial accumulations of zinc oxide minerals of detrital nature deposited within a palaeochannel. There are no other currently commercially viable deposits of this type.
Secondly, it is the only mine in the world which mines zinc oxides. Other zinc oxide deposits are present, but are typically uneconomic as beneficiation of hydrozincite from gangue materials has proven difficult via gravimetric means.
Finally, it is the only zinc processing facility to use solvent extraction-electrowinning metallurgy to process and refine its zinc products (others using conventional smelting and roasting).
The Skorpion SX-EW plant creates Special High Grade, ultra-pure zinc cathode as a primary product, which is so low in impurities that it commands a price premium.
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