Which countries have significant deposits of lead ore?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Significant deposits of lead ore are found globally, with major concentrations located in several key countries. According to geological data, the most notable deposits are situated in the following nations:

  • Australia12
  • Canada12
  • China12
  • Kazakhstan32
  • Mexico12
  • Peru12
  • Russia2
  • United States12

In the United States, significant deposits are specifically located in the western states and the Mississippi valley. Within Asia, important lead resources are also found in North Korea and the Kuznetsk Basin of Siberia.13

While lead is rarely found in its native state, it is primarily extracted from the sulfide mineral galena, which serves as the world's major source of lead production. Other commercially relevant minerals include cerussite and anglesite. It is important to note that nearly 90 percent of primary lead ore is recovered as a by-product of mining for other metals, particularly zinc and silver.12