The World’s Largest Lead Mines

The worlds top 10 largest lead mines (2023)

Lead often lacks the futuristic allure of lithium or copper, but without it, the modern world would quite literally blink out. While the infographic above, based on Mining Technology’s 2023 market data, ranks the world’s top producers by tonnage, the deeper story is about the critical role these mines play in securing our digital infrastructure.

Before diving into the mine-level drama, consider why we still dig 4.5 million tonnes of this metal annually. Lead-acid batteries remain the primary technology for Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS). Every time you access the cloud or use AI, your data relies on massive banks of lead batteries to prevent downtime. As the AI boom drives a surge in server construction, these mines are effectively digging the insurance policy for the internet.

The Center of Gravity Shifts East

The 2023 data reveals a historic pivot. Vedanta Resources has firmly claimed the crown, with its Sindesar Khurd mine in India taking the #1 spot. This isn't just a victory of geology; it is a triumph of automation. Unlike aging Western assets, Sindesar Khurd has become a testbed for digitization, utilizing tele-remote drilling and advanced underground monitoring to maximize output. India is now setting the pace for efficiency, leaving traditional heavyweights to play catch-up.

This rise contrasts sharply with the "Old Guard." Just two years ago, in 2021, Australian giants like Mount Isa and Cannington produced significantly more (132kt and 114kt respectively). Their decline in 2023 paved the way for India’s highly automated operations to take the lead.

Disruption in the Americas & Australia

Meanwhile, the Western hemisphere faced a year of fragility. Newmont’s Peñasquito (#7) in Mexico saw its output throttled by a crippling four-month strike that cost hundreds of millions in lost revenue, proving that labor relations remain as critical as ore grades. In Australia, the headlines were dominated by the closure of the Mount Isa copper mines. However, the data clarifies a crucial point: the George Fisher Zinc-Lead Mine (#4) is alive and well, continuing to supply the market until at least 2036 even as its copper sibling winds down.

The Arctic Clock

Finally, all eyes are on Teck’s Red Dog (#5) in Alaska. A logistical marvel operating in the Arctic Circle, it remains a pillar of global supply. But with a mine life currently projected to end around 2031, the race is frantically on to permit the nearby Aktigiruq deposit. The 2023 numbers are strong, but the industry knows that without this expansion, a massive hole in global supply is less than a decade away.

Rank	Mine Name	Location	Owner/Operator	2023 Production (kt)	Notes
1	Sindesar Khurd	India	Vedanta Resources	102.1	Confirmed as global leader.
2	Cannington	Australia	South32	101.7	High-grade silver-lead-zinc mine.
3	Uchalinsk	Russia	Ural Mining and Metallurgical (UMMC)	99.2	Steady producer.
4	Mount Isa Zinc	Australia	Glencore	96.7	Zinc-lead operations separate from copper.
5	Red Dog	USA (Alaska)	Teck Resources	90.7	Largest U.S. lead mine.
6	Zawar	India	Vedanta Resources	62.6	Another Vedanta asset.
7	Peñasquito	Mexico	Newmont	54.0	Impacted by strike (see article for details).
8	Sweetwater	USA	The Renco Group (Doe Run)	53.9	U.S. mid-tier producer.
9	San Cristobal	Bolivia	San Cristobal Mining (Sumitomo)	51.9	Open-pit silver-zinc-lead operation.
10	McArthur River (Zinc)	Australia	Glencore	50.4	Zinc-lead focus.

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Primary Source: "The world’s ten largest lead mines" Mining Technology (published June 17, 2024) URL: https://www.mining-technology.com/marketdata/ten-largest-leads-mines/