It originally held claims in the Gilman Mining district in Colorado.
The company was founded in the 1940s and was engaged in the exploration, development, and production of zinc and other minerals.
[citation needed] In the 1950s, Empire Zinc Company was involved in a labor dispute known as the Empire Zinc strike, which was a major event in the history of the American labor movement.
[1] The strike, which was led by the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers, was sparked by a dispute over wages and working conditions at the Hanover-Potosi mine.
The strike was ultimately resolved through negotiations, and Empire Zinc Company continued to operate until it was acquired by the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company in the 1970s.