Zinifex said Thursday that it is interested in talking to...

Zinifex said Thursday that it is interested in talking to Glencore about refining zinc concentrates from the three idled Tennessee zinc mines it bought from bankrupt Asarco at auction on May 19 for $65 million.

Martin McFarlane, Zinfex's group manager, investor & community relations, told Platts by e-mail: "Obviously if Glencore restarts the Asarco Tennessee mines it will add much needed zinc concentrates to what is a very tight global market," and added that, "when Glencore finalize their plans for restarting the mines we would be open to exploring the benefits of Clarksville treating their zinc concentrates." He said that Zinifex's Clarksville, Tennessee, zinc refinery would be a convenient destination for any concentrate produced by Glencore from the three mines. A spokesman for Glencore was not immediately available for comment.

Clarksville produces about 110,000 mt/year of zinc metal according to the company's web site.