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A theoretical study of integral and differential cross sections as well as of spin-polarization effects is reported for elastic electron scattering by zinc atoms at collision energies up to 3 keV. It has been shown that a P -wave shape resonance appears in the low-energy range of the integral cross sections. Its energy is about 0.19 and 0.20 eV, while its width is about 0.309 and 0.356 eV for the j = 3/2 and j = 1/2 total angular momentum of the electron, respectively. The differential cross sections of scattering and the Sherman-functions S (E , θ) are computed by the parameter-free complex optical potential method. The calculated data are in a good overall agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data in the literature. The energy and angular positions have been located for five critical minima in the differential cross sections. The low-energy minimum is located at [6.63 eV; 102.34°], while the high-energy minimum is at [347.53 eV; 124.11°]. Ten points for the scattered electrons' total spin-polarization (S = ± 1) have been found in the vicinity of the critical minima along with the energy and the angular widths of the spin-polarization peaks (where | S | ≥ 0.9). • Fine parameters of elastic electron-atom scattering has very useful technological aspects. • Accurate scattering cross sections are necessary, but still missing for some atomic target species. • We propose a new set of electron-impact cross sections for zinc atom in a broad collision energy range (from 0.01 up to 3000 eV). • Spin polarization parameters and Sherman functions are also calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]