Scarce MetalsSlide 2Slide 3Slide 4Ferrous or ferro-alloyNon Ferrous or Base MetalPreciousSpecial MetalsFerro AlloyChromium (Cr)Producers 2006ReservesChromite: the ore mineralGeological OccurrenceLocation of Chromite DepositsLocations of Podiform ChromiteGeologic Map Bushveld ComplexEroding layersRhythmic layering, BushveldVanadiumUses of VanadiumSlide 22Location of V DepositsVanadium ProductionNickelUsesMajor ProducersLocation of Ni DepositsSlide 29Slide 30Resources/ReservesMolybdenumSlide 33ProducersSlide 35Environmental ProblemsCobaltSlide 38Major Producer/ReservesSlide 40TungstenSlide 42Slide 43Scarce MetalsScarce Metals•"The geochemically scarce metals are the enzymes of industry. It is their special properties that have led to such technological marvels as the generation and distribution of electricity, the telephone, radio and television, automobiles, aircraft, rockets, computers and the Internet. Yet it is in this same group of metals that many experts once believed shortages and restrictions of natural resources might appear. "Scarce Metals•"When the world's annual production of iron has, for many years, been a 100 million tons or more, only four (really five) of the geochemically scarce metals have ever been produced at rates that exceed 1 million tons a year."•page 280, Resources of the EarthScarce Metals•Classified on the basis of usageFerrous or ferro-alloy•V Vanadium•Ni Nickel•Mo Molybdenum•Cr Chromium•Co Cobalt•W TungstenNon Ferrous or Base Metal•Cu, Pb, Zn, Sn, Hg, CdPrecious•Au•Ag•PGE—Platinum Group Elements–Pt, Pd, Ir, Os, Rh, RuSpecial Metals•For example •Ta Tantalum•Be BerylliumFerro Alloy•We will start with those metals used in making steelChromium (Cr)•Crustal average 96 ppm•Uses–Steel industry 12-36 wt%–Refractory–Chemical•Pigment—yellow to bright orange or deep green•Tanning--Cr in solution forms bonds with amino acids in leather—stabilizes organic materialProducers 2006In Millions of metric tons•India 3.3•Kazakhstan 3.6•South Africa 8.0•Other 5.0Reserves•In millions of metric tons•India 25•Kazakhstan 290•South Africa 160•World unavailableChromite: the ore mineralGeological Occurrence•Restricted to Igneous Rocks–Mafic—rich in Fe and Mg•Podiform•StratiformLocation of Chromite DepositsLocations of Podiform ChromiteGeologic Map Bushveld ComplexEroding layersRhythmic layering, BushveldVanadium•Found in “solid solution” in magnetite.•V is mined as a by product of other mining•Only makes up 0.014% wt% of crustUses of Vanadium•Tanning and pigments (since 1830)•Steel (since 1896)–Only need as much as 0.2 wt%--increases strengthGeological Occurrence•Mafic layered intrusions•Sedimentary from weathering•Concentrated in organic matter–Coal 0.02 wt%–Crude oil 0.005 wt%–Tar sands 0.025 wt% to 0.05wt%Location of V DepositsVanadium Production•2007 pdf files of V from USGSNickel•72 ppm in the crust•1781--pure metal•Takes its name from:–Discovered in Saxony—Cu Mines–Minors tried to smelt some of the Cu ore•Kupfernickel—Old Nick’s CuUses•Initially electroplating (Michael Faraday)•Now > 50% in steel•>30% in non ferrous alloys and SuperalloysMajor Producers•Russia•Canada•Australia•New Caledonia•IndonesiaLocation of Ni DepositsGeological Occurrence•Igneous–Sudbury, Ontario–Ore mineral pentlandite•Sedimentary–Laterites (4 to 5 wt% in Ni silicate)–Ore mineral garnieriteResources/Reserves•We’ve already covered this in our Ni problem earlier onMolybdenum•1.2 ppm in the crust•1778—new element•1893 pure metalUses•As a Sulfide–Lubricant–Orange pigment•As a Metal–Steel: 0.1 to 10% added to steel•Makes it tough and resilient•Could replace W steels for high speed cutting toolsProducers•USGS 2007 PDF fileGeological Occurrence•Igneous•Plate boundaries--porphyriesEnvironmental Problems•Large amounts of waste rock•Very large scars on the landCobalt•Has been known as a blue coloring agent for thousands of years•28 ppm in crust•Kobolds—Ag Stealing goblinsUses•Steel–up to 5% Co in steel•Superalloys–Major use•Chemical Applications–Coloring, tanning, Co compoundsMajor Producer/ReservesKinshasaPDF fileGeological Occurrence•Sedimentary–Black shales–LateritesTungsten•1 ppm in crust•Highest melting point•Highest tensile strength•1855—added to steel in France•WC•Light filamentsGeological Occurrence•Igneous•Convergent Plate BoundariesProducers•China!•Pdf