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Grade and tonnage data for clastic-dominated and Mississippi Valley-type zinc-lead-silver deposits

August 11, 2026

Sediment hosted zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) deposits are the most significant sources of zinc and lead ore globally. Zinc is required to create corrosion-resistant iron and steel products among other applications, and lead is an important element in car batteries and other industrial products. These deposits can also contain significant quantities of silver (Ag), which is commonly used in the production of electronics. The most important sources of sediment hosted Zn and Pb are clastic-dominated (CD) deposits, formerly referred to as sedimentary exhalative or SEDEX deposits, and carbonate dominated Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposits. We define CD deposit types following Emsbo and others, (2016) and Leach and others, 2010b, and MVT deposits following Leach and others, 2010a. This inventory of CD and MVT deposits builds on previous compilations by Singer and others, 2009 and Taylor and others, 2009 and features updated grade and tonnage data. This updated grade and tonnage data for Zn-Pb-Ag CD and MVT deposits can be used to: 1) ensure robust mineral inventory data for grade and tonnage modelling, 2) extend byproduct grade information, and 3) inform cumulative production and mine waste inventory data.

Publication Year 2026
Title Grade and tonnage data for clastic-dominated and Mississippi Valley-type zinc-lead-silver deposits
DOI 10.5066/P14FPX9S
Authors Paul W Volante, Graham W Lederer
Product Type Data Release
Record Source USGS Asset Identifier Service (AIS)
USGS Organization Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
Rights This work is marked with CC0 1.0 Universal
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