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Rare Metals:
An overview of Tantalum, Niobium, Cobalt,
Zirconium, Gallium and Indium
While often confused with the Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and
Minerals (REMs) (1), the Rare Metals and Metalloids (RMs) are
different. RMs share some common features but they are seldom found
together (with the exception of tantalum & niobium) and are seldom
found with the REEs. Metalloids exhibits properties between a metal
and a non-metal, they have a metallic appearance, but they are
brittle and only fair conductors of electricity. Chemically, they
mostly behave as nonmetals. They can form alloys with metals.
The RMs are tantalum, niobium, cobalt,
zirconium, indium, gallium, and lithium (discussed in a separate
posting (2)). RMs are mined in substantial quantities that meet
current world demand. They are also considered critical or strategic
metals due to their use and importance in energy and technology
applications.
While relatively small in annual production,
they still are very important:
Cobalt – 112,000 tonnes (2014)
Gallium – 440 tonnes (2014)
Indium – 820 tonnes (2014)
Niobium – 59,000 tonnes (2014)
Tantalum – 1,200 tonnes (2014)
Zirconium – 1,500 tonnes (2014)
Properties and Applications
Rare metals and metalloids exhibit a wide
range of chemical and physical properties that make them important
in energy and technology applications.
Tantalum and Niobium are the most chemically
linked pair of RMs. They are typically found together in the ore
columbite-tantalite ("coltan"). Niobium was originally called
columbium, which is where columbite and coltan got their name.
Tantalum is primarily used in capacitors for microelectronics due to
its high heat and electrical conductivity. Niobium can be used as an
alternative to tantalum capacitors, but it is used primarily in
alloys for superconducting magnets, rockets, turbines, and medical
instruments.
Cobalt is used in alloys for aircraft engine
parts and in alloys with corrosion/wear resistant uses. It is also
widely used in batteries and in electroplating. Cobalt salts are
used to impart blue and green colors in glass and ceramics.
Radioactive 60Co is used in the treatment of cancer. Cobalt is
essential to many living creatures and is a component of vitamin
B12. Cobalt is also used in samarium-cobalt permanent magnets (the
less powerful predecessors of neodymium-based magnets). These are
used in guitar pickups and high speed motors.
Indium and gallium are the metalloids, and
the two elements are chemically similar to each other. Indium is
used in the LCD displays for TV screens, computer, and smartphone
screens. Gallium is most often used in semiconductors, in the form
of gallium arsenide (GaAs). Gallium arsenides ability to produce
light radiation from electricity is valuable for production of
integrated circuits, LEDs, laser diodes, and solar cells.
Zirconium is used to create heat and
radiation resistant alloys, which are often used in nuclear power
plants. Zirconium alloys can also serve functional roles in phones
and computers (or mobile and computer technologies).
Geology and Mining
High-grade ores naturally occur in specific
regions within a few countries. This is a problem since the highly
localized nature of these sources implies that the country with the
highest grade source, and subsequently the best access to it, will
have the ability to sell at lower prices.
Tantalum and niobium are typically found in
ores together, primarily in coltan. 80% of coltan production is
mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and sold to the
highest bidder by militias of surrounding countries. Niobium is also
produced by itself with the majority coming from Brazil followed by
Canada and Australia. Besides the Congo, Tantalum reserves are in
Australia and Brazil.
Cobalt is typically found in copper or nickel
ores. 40% of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
where it is primarily mined by artisanal miners who sell the ore to
foreign companies, mainly in China.
There are no sites specially dedicated to
mining indium. It is found in very low quantities in zinc ore. China
produces over 60% of the worlds indium.
Like Indium, Gallium is often produced as a
byproduct of Zinc and Aluminum mining. According the USGS, "data on
world production of primary gallium are unavailable because data on
the output of the few producers are considered to be proprietary."
Recycled gallium from GaAs scrap is judged in some estimates to make
up as much as half of the world supply.
80% of world zirconium comes from igneous
rock and gravel mined in South Africa and Australia. Zirconium is
more abundant in the earth’s crust than copper and lead, although
most of its sources are not economically viable to mine. However, as
demand continues to increase and prices continue to rise, their
viability may increase.
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40+ years’ experience in the mining industry with strong mineral
processing experience in precious metals, copper, industrial
minerals, coal, and phosphate
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Operational experience in precious metals, coal, and phosphate plus
in petrochemicals.
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Extensive experience performing studies and determining feasibility
in the US and international (United States, Canada, Mexico, Ecuador,
Columbia, Venezuela, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, and Greece).
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E-mail:
info@smartdogmining.com
