Ireland currently has three underground
zinc-lead mines in production and is
the largest producer of lead concentrates.
Ireland now ranks 7th largest producer
of Zinc concentrates in the world and
12th largest producer of lead concentrates.
The three base metal mines are, in order
of discovery, Navan, Galmoy and Lisheen.
Navan mine started production in 1977
and is the largest Zinc mine in Europe.
Galmoy and Lisheen started production
more recently in 1997 and 1998 respectively.
Mining of gypsum has been carried out
continuously at Kingscourt since 1936
both underground and in open pits. Current
production is in the order of 500,000tpa
and the gypsum is used locally to manufacture
plasterboard.
Rock salt is being worked at Kilroot,
Northern Ireland by underground dry
mining of five distinct beds of salt
at varying thickness from 6m to 20m.
Processed rock salt is used for winter
de-icing of roads in Ireland, the UK
and USA. The mine has production capabilities
of up to half a million tonnes per annum
of rock salt.
Irelands only commercial gold mine is operated by Galantas Gold Corporation at Cavanacaw, Omagh, Co. Tyrone.
The mining sector has not escaped turmoil in 2008. Ireland produces 4% of the world’s zinc; however zinc prices, like many other commodities, are depressed. The Galmoy mine in Co. Kilkenny will close in May 2009, while Tara in Co Meath and Lisheen in Co. Tipperary face difficult trading conditions.
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