Zinc mining

[8][9] Metallic zinc was smelted in the 9th century BC in India, followed by China 300 years later, and in Europe by 1738 AD.

[15] Cut and Fill stoping: A method of underground mining which removes ore from below the deposit.

Fish and crayfish populations in localities near mining sites have been observed to be much lower than other populations found in reference sites; and the crayfish tissues have much higher metal concentrations than their reference counterparts.

have been observed, with the ecosystem having an impaired ability to support its populations when compared to other reference sites.

[22] Benthic macro-invertebrates such as crayfish and mussels represent a pathway for biomagnification, where the concentration of noxious materials within organisms at higher trophic levels accumulates as a result of consuming contaminated prey.

[19][23][24] Soil samples from agricultural areas near a lead-zinc mining region in Guangxi, China have shown a "serious pollution level" of zinc in paddy fields relatively close to the mining area, and a "moderate pollution level" in the aerated fields relatively further away.

[25] The research also indicated that their Nemerow synthetic index assessment[clarification needed] showed that the region under study is not fit for agricultural purposes.