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| State: | QLD |
| Operation: | Cannington Mine |
| Operator: | BHP Billiton |
| Material Produced: |
Silver, lead, zinc concentrates |
BHP Billiton Cannington is a major mine situated in north-west Queensland. It is the world's largest single mine of both silver and lead and is also a significant producer of zinc. The mine is owned and operated by BHP Billiton Minerals, a business group of BHP Billiton.
Silver, lead and zinc are extremely important metals, with a variety of uses. The table below summarises some of their more important properties and uses. You can read much more about these metals by visiting the Rock Files.
| Metal (chemical symbol) | Properties | Major uses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver (Ag) | Silver compounds are sensitive to light. Bright shiny metal which doesn't tarnish easily. | Photography, Jewellery |
Silver jewellery |
| Lead (Pb) | Conducts electricity. Extremely dense. Blocks radiation. | Car batteries, Weights (eg sinkers, keels), Radiation protection. |
Car batteries contain lead electrodes. |
| Zinc (Zn) | Offers corrosion protection to iron or steel. | Galvanising |
The steel frame of this building is galvanised, ie covered in a thin layer of zinc metal to prevent corrosion of the steel underneath. |
