DOWA Metals & Mining

The history of Dowa started with the development of kuroko ore.

Dowa’s history began with the mining of kuroko ore in the town of Kosaka, located in northern part of Akita Prefecture, northern Japan, where numerous kuroko deposits are found in the so-called Hokuroku Basin.

Kuroko is a polymetallic complex sulfide ore finely composed of sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite, barite and other minor minerals. Although kuroko ore contains abundant precious metals such as gold and silver as well, it was difficult to recover those precious and base metals efficiently due to its complexity of mineral composition.

Dowa overcame this technological challenge, and invented Dowa's own flotation and smelting technology successfully.

Overseas exploration and resource development activities

Dowa first commenced overseas exploration and resource development during the 1940s when Japanese mines were still active.
 
However, due to economic changes and the depletion of ore, domestic mines were forced to suspend operation in 1994. Dowa currently conducts its activities overseas and applies technological expertise developed through its kuroko ore mining.
 
Dowa is currently involved in the operation of three mines: Tizapa Mine (Mexico), Los Gatos Mine (Mexico) and Gibraltar Mine (Canada). Dowa imports zinc and copper concentrates from those mines to feed to Akita Zinc and Onahama Smelting & Refining.

 We will stabilize procurement of raw materials by increasing self-sufficiency ratio from investing mines.