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Lead

Lead is a heavy, soft, bluish-grey base metal with the chemical symbol Pb, widely used in industrial applications and traded as a commodity on global metals markets. It is primarily extracted from galena ore, often found in association with zinc, silver and copper deposits. The metal's high density, low melting point, corrosion resistance and malleability make it valuable for batteries, radiation shielding, construction materials and various chemical applications. Lead-acid batteries for automotive and energy storage systems account for the majority of global lead consumption, with demand closely tied to vehicle production and renewable energy infrastructure. Major producing countries include China, Australia, the United States, Peru and Mexico, with significant mining operations also in Africa and the Balkans. Lead is traded on the London Metal Exchange and other commodity exchanges, with prices influenced by battery demand, recycling rates, environmental regulations and broader industrial activity. The metal's toxicity has led to strict environmental and health regulations in many jurisdictions, driving increased recycling and substitution in certain applications. Lead recycling from used batteries and other sources now supplies a substantial portion of global consumption, making it one of the most recycled industrial metals. Mining and processing operations must comply with stringent environmental standards to manage tailings, emissions and worker exposure.

Lead News


New South32 CEO Matt Daley.
New South32 CEO sees strong growth ahead in zinc, lead, silver, copper
3rd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Being a premier base metals-focused business with strong growth potential is the vision for South32 of new CEO Matt Daley. “We've got around 55% production growth over the next handful of years in... 


Botswana Minerals chairperson John Teeling
AI review uncovers historic copper mineralisation targets for Botswana Minerals
30th June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Aim-listed Botswana Minerals has announced that an AI-driven review of legacy geological records identified primary copper sulphide and altered copper minerals in historical drill cores from holes... 


An image of the SAG mill at Rosh Pinah Zinc's project in Namibia
RPZ, Appian commission SAG mill for Namibia project
29th June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Mining company Rosh Pinah Zinc (RPZ) and investment advisor Appian Capital Advisory have announced the commissioning of the new semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill at the miner’s underground... 


Nyrstar smelter in Australia
Nyrstar shareholders file petition for interim measures while Antwerp investigates forgery claims
26th June 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Euronext Brussels-listed base metals miner Nyrstar has advised that certain shareholders filed a petition for interim measures with the Antwerp Enterprise Court on June 26. The claimant... 


Bunker Hill Mining ore sorting and crushing in Idaho
Bunker Hill Mining expects first concentrate batch by month-end
26th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Bunker Hill Mining Corporation says commissioning of its new 1 800 t a day processing facility in Kellogg, Idaho, is on track to produce its first batch of concentrate for sale by the... 


Santa Helena mineralisation in Brazil
Meridian Mining uncovers another VMS layer at Santa Helena in Brazil
17th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

London- and Toronto-listed Meridian Mining has intercepted a new volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) layer of strong precious and base metals mineralisation at the Santa Helena project, in Brazil.... 


Aerial view of the Kipushi Mine’s tailings storage facilities. A new facility is under construction (bottom) adjacent to the existing storage facility (top). The first deposit of tailings is expected in October 2026. Kipushi has the smallest tailings storage facility of any major base metal mine, globally.
Kipushi zinc/copper/lead/germanium mine, Democratic Republic of Congo – update
12th June 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Construction of the Kipushi mine's second tailings storage facility (TSF) is more than 90% complete. 


Richard Lloyd
Shuka Minerals completes third drill hole at Zambia zinc mine
10th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Shuka Minerals has successfully completed the third drill hole – KBDD03 – at the Number 2 orebody at its Kabwe zinc mine, in Zambia. The third diamond drill hole was planned at 65° at a... 


Nyrstar's Port Pirie smelter in Australia
Base metals refiner Nyrstar under suspicion of forgery in Antwerp
8th June 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Euronext Brussels-listed base metals miner Nyrstar has advised of it being placed under suspicion of alleged forgery, the use of false annual accounts and the misuse of corporate assets by the... 


Praire Creek surface infrastructure
Honey Badger initiates updated PEA, MRE studies on world-class Prairie Creek silver deposit
29th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed Honey Badger Silver has tasked consultancy JDS Energy & Mining to conduct an updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA) and mineral resource estimate (MRE) on the Praire Creek... 


Image of dictionary definition of base metals
Tala Hamza zinc/lead project, Algeria
29th May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

A revised two-million-tonne-a-year mining study has been completed on the proposed project. 


The above image depicts a copper license image from the Planetary AI Xplore platform
AI pinpoints major mineral-bearing anomalies in Botswana
15th May 2026 By: Lynne Davies

Having identified multiple anomalies across copper, silver and lead/zinc across the north-eastern Damara Belt using AI tools, mineral exploration company Botswana Minerals has found a 9.5 km copper... 


US flag and periodic table symbol for silver
Sunshine mine, US
15th May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

A silver mine in northern Idaho, in the US. 


Image of US flag and lead, silver zinc
Bunker Hill zinc/lead/silver mine restart project, US – update
8th May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Bunker Hill reported on May 4 that the restart of operations remained on track for June 2026. 


Central Copper project area, in Botswana Kalahari Copper Belt
Leviathan to raise $10m for exploration
6th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

TSX-V-listed Leviathan Metals Corporation has entered into an agreement with Beacon Securities to act as sole agent in connection with a “best efforts” private placement of up to 15.6-million... 


Bunker Hill drill core
Bunker Hill on track for June restart, finds new veins early in drill programme
5th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Idaho-based Bunker Hill Mining Corporation is on track to restart operations at the Bunker Hill mine in June with 93% of pre-production activities having been completed, while underground... 


The Hermosa project
South32 remains upbeat on Hermosa’s Taylor project, despite higher capex
30th April 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX-, LSE- and JSE-listed South32 has increased the estimated capital expenditure (capex) requirement for the Taylor zinc/lead/silver project – the first development at its larger Hermosa project,... 


An image of Botswana Minerals chairperson John Teeling
Botswana Minerals identifies priority base metals targets
20th April 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Aim-listed Botswana Minerals says the company is progressing well with its fully funded AI-driven exploration programme over licences 458 and 459 in Ngamiland, north-west Botswana, which aims to... 


Nearby Keno Hill mine, in Yukon
Argyle to earn 100% of historic McKay Hill property over three years
17th April 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Calgary-based exploration company Argyle Resources has entered into an option agreement with Metallic Minerals Corporation to earn a 100% interest in the McKay Hill property, in Canada’s Yukon... 


Image of the Kipushi mine
Kipushi zinc/copper/lead/germanium mine, Democratic Republic of Congo – update
17th April 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Ivanhoe Mines has reported that the Kipushi concentrator delivered another record quarter in the first quarter of 2026. 


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pqt: 0.076s - ct: 0.126s - 277pq - 2rq
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