Zinc powder is a chalcophile metallic element. It forms several minerals, involving sphalerite ZnS, the commonest Zn mineral, smithsonite ZnCO3, and zincite ZnO, however, it is also widely dispersed as a trace element in pyroxene, mica, amphibole, garnet, and magnetite. Zinc is utilized in geochemical prospecting as a pathfinder for various types of Zn mineralization and is normally accompanied by Cadmium.

Zinc powder is also employed to the skin for treating acne, foot ulcers caused by diabetes, leg ulcers, diaper rash, warts, aging skin, herpes simplex infections, parasitic infections, brown patches on the face, and to speed wound healing. Most zinc is employed to galvanize other metals, such as iron, to prevent rusting. Galvanized steel is utilized for car bodies, street lamp posts, safety barriers and suspension bridges.

Zinc powder is used to produce die-castings, which are indispensable in the automobile, electrical and hardware industries. It is also employed in alloys such as brass, nickel silver, and aluminum solder. Oxide of Zinc is widely employed in the production of many products such as paints, rubber, cosmetics, plastics, inks, pharmaceuticals, soaps, batteries, textiles, and electrical equipment.

Some compounds of zinc have also various applications such as Zinc sulfide is used in making luminous paints, fluorescent lights, and x-ray screens. Zinc has good electromagnetic field resistance properties and in the case of radio frequency interference, the zinc plate is very effective shielding material. Zinc powder highly pure is a non-magnetic material; it is efficient for manufacturing components and covers of instruments and meters. Since zinc creates no sparks, either alone or in collision with other metals. In this way, it is suitable for producing explosion-proof equipment.

Zinc powder can be utilized to make batteries, for instance, zinc-manganese batteries and zinc-air batteries. Zinc-based alloys and zinc oxide have applications in the different industries such as in the construction and shipbuilding industries, machinery, household electrical appliances, light industry, and batteries. Currently, its consumption among non-ferrous metals is second only to aluminum and copper.