In 1746, Andreas Sigismund Marggraf discovered what we now know today as pure metallic zinc. Since this discovery, it has been noted that zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth's crust. In order to extract Zinc from the Earth, people have to mine for ores that contain zinc. The most popularly mined zinc-containing ore is Sphalerite. This is the most popular because it has the highest concentration of zinc out of all of the zinc-containing ores. Sphalerite can be found in many different places around the world inside igneous and metamorphic rocks. In the United States alone, Sphalerite deposits can be found in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and New Jersey. The importance of mining this ore is high simply because zinc is used in so many different ways in todays society. Zinc is not only used to make rubber and paint products, but is also involved in different alloys. A prime example of this is its occurrence in brass (an alloy of zinc and copper). On top of these uses, zinc also has medicinal purposes. A small amount of zinc is actually necessary for maintaining good health. It can be used to boost one's immune system and can even help alleviate cold symptoms. Without zinc, people can face stunted growth as well as slow wound-healing. Overall, zinc is a crucially important element in today's world, and should not be overlooked.
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