MOLYBDENUM
Indian Minerals Yearbook 2014 (Part- II : Metals & Alloys) 53rd Edition MOLYBDENUM (ADVANCE RELEASE)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES INDIAN BUREAU OF MINES Indira Bhavan, Civil Lines, NAGPUR – 440 001 PHONE/FAX NO. (0712) 2565471 PBX : (0712) 2562649, 2560544, 2560648
E-MAIL :
[email protected] Website: www.ibm.gov.in
November, 2015 11-1
MOLYBDENUM
11 Molybdenum
M
olybdenum (Mo) is a refractory metal used principally as an alloying agent in steel, cast iron & superalloys to enhance strength and wear and corrosion resistance. It does not occur in nature in free state. Usually, it is found in chemically combined form with other elements. Molybdenite (MoS2) is the principal ore of molybdenum. About two-thirds of global molybdenum production is as by-product of copper mining and only about one-third is obtained from primary molybdenum mines. In India, by-product concentrates of molybdenum are produced intermittently from uranium ore of Jaduguda mine belonging to Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) in Jharkhand. The internal demand for molybdenum and its products is met mostly through imports.
different proportions for imparting desired properties, such as increased strength, hardness and resistance to corrosion, temperature and chipping. It also finds application in permanent magnet alloys. As a refractory metal, it is used in many electrical and electronic components and as resistance element in electric furnaces and other equipment which are operated at extremely high temperatures. Its non-metallurgical uses are in lubricants, catalysts, pigments, as an additive in oil and greases, in aerosol sprays, in reducing surface friction and as an antiwear and antifriction agent in plastics. Molybdenum plays a vital role in the energy industry and it may become an increasingly essential factor in green technology.
SUBSTITUTES
RESOURCES India continues to lack in several critical minerals and one of them is molybdenum. In India, molybdenum is associated generally with copper, lead and zinc ores. Rakha copper deposit in Jharkhand contains 45 to 48 ppm molybdenum. Malanjkhand copper deposit in Madhya Pradesh contains 0.04% recoverable molybdenum. Dariba-Rajpura lead-zinc deposit in Rajasthan contains molybdenum besides bismuth, arsenic and cadmium. The multimetal deposit at Umpyrtha in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, reportedly contains molybdenum in association with copper, lead and tungsten. Molybdenum deposit in Karadikuttam in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, contains 0.02 to 0.14% recoverable molybdenum. As per the UNFC System, the resources of molybdenum ore in the country as on 1.4.2010 are estimated at about 19.29 million tonnes containing about 12,640 tonnes MoS2. The above resources are located in Tamil Nadu (9.97 million tonnes), Madhya Pradesh (8 million tonnes) and Karnataka (1.32 million tonnes) (Table-1).
EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT GSI carried out exploration activities in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu which is furnished in Table - 2.
USES Molybdenum is a versatile alloying agent for alloy steel, cast iron, nickel, cobalt and titanium alloys. For desired metallurgical properties, it is used in the form of molybdic oxide or ferro-molybdenum. It is used in
There is little substitution for molybdenum in its major application, viz, as an alloying element in steel and cast irons. Owing to the availability and versatility of molybdenum, industry has sought to develop new materials that benefit from the alloying properties of the metal. Potential substitutes for molybdenum include chromium, vanadium, niobium (columbium) and boron in alloy steels; tungsten in tool steels; tungsten and tantalum for refractory materials in high temperature electric furnaces and chrome-orange, cadmium-red and organic-orange pigments for molybdenum orange.
MINING Molybdenum concentrate is produced intermittently incidental to uranium mining at Jaduguda mine of UCIL.
INDUSTRY AND CONSUMPTION Usually, molybdenum is used in the form of roasted concentrates, oxide or ferro-molybdenum in the defence industries. HCL has installed a pilot plant for producing molybdenum concentrate from copper ore containing 0.3% Mo at Rakha mine, East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. However, molybdenum recovery at Rakha is not found economical. Molybdenum is used chiefly in the form of ferro-molybdenum. The production of ferromolybdenum increased from 1,076 tonnes in 2012-13 to 1,231 tonnes in 2013-14. The consumption of ferromolybdenum in 2013-14 was 663 tonnes and 666 tonnes in 2012-13. Alloy steel industry alone accounted for
11-2
-
Contained MoS2
11-3
-
Contained MoS 2
-
Contained MoS 2
-
Contained MoS 2
Figures rounded off.
-
Ore
Tamil Nadu
-
Ore
Madhya Pradesh
-
Ore
Karnataka
B y St a t e s
-
To t a l (A)
Ore
All India : Total
Grade/State
Reserves
1050
1500000
-
-
-
-
1050
1500000
Pre-feasibility STD221
83
36000
-
-
-
-
83
36000
Measured STD331
287
569304
-
-
-
-
287
569304
Indicated STD332
4431
7692728
5020
8000000
1719
1320900
111 7 0
17013628
Inferred STD333
Remaining resources
50
167800
-
-
-
-
50
167800
Reconnaissance STD334
Table – 1 : Reserves/Resources of Molybdenum as on 1.4.2010 (By Grades/States)
5901
9965832
5020
8000000
1719
1320900
12640
19286732
To t a l (B)
5901
9965832
5020
8000000
1719
1320900
12640
19286732
To t a l resources (A+B)
(In tonnes)
MOLYBDENUM
MOLYBDENUM
Table – 2 : Details of Exploration Activities for Molybdenum, 2013-14 Agency/ State/ District
Location Area/ Block
GSI Maharashtra
Nagpur Sakoli fold belt Khobna
Tamil Nadu Dharamapuri
Mapping Scale
Drilling
Area No. of (sq km) boreholes
1:12,500
55
1:5000
30
-
Velampatti South Block
Meterage
430.40
Sampling (No.)
120
Remarks Reserves/Resources estimated Reconnaissance stage (G4) investigation carried out to identify zones of molybdenum and associated mineralisation and evaluation of its potentiality.The rock types in this area are granitic gneiss, chlorite mica schist, mica schist, pegmatites, milky white and smoky quartz veins and laterite. The general trend of the foliation is NNE-SSW. The molybdenum mineralisation occurs near the contact of foliated granite whereas the tungsten mineralisation occucrs well within the greisen zone and at its contact with the chlorite mica schist. Specks of molybdenite present in greisens are observed in the dump material excavated from shafts.
Prospecting (G-3) stage investigation was carried out reassess the Molybdenite resources. The HUB is divided into a southern Harur sector and a northern Uttangarai sector on either side of the easterly flowing river Ponnaiyar. Three sub-parallel mineralized shear zones are established in the HUB. The main shear zone extends from Velampatti in the south to Nochchipatti in the north. The other two subparallel shear zones occur west of the main shear zone. The sub surface probing by drilling in 6 boreholes (each up to 150 m depth) indicated a number of both high and low grademineralized zones. In view of absence of lodes towards deeper levels the investigation was closed. The investigation has been completed.
11-4
MOLYBDENUM
about 66% consumption followed by iron & steel (24%) and foundry (8%). The data on production and consumption of ferro-molybdenum are given in Tables - 3 and 4, respectively. Non-ferrous Technology Development Centre at the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad has a pilot plant for producing molybdenum powder. Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (formerly RRL), Bhubaneswar, is carrying out basic research on recovery of molybdenum from spent catalysts.
WORLD REVIEW The world reserves of molybdenum are 11 million tonnes, located mainly in China (39%), USA (25%), Chile (16%), Peru (4%), besides Russia, Armenia, Canada and Mexico (Table-5). The world production of molybdenum in terms of metal increased to 2.70 lakh tonnes in 2013 from 2.56 lakh tonnes in the previous year. China (41%), USA (23%) and Chile (14%) together accounted for about 78% of world production (Table-6). Table – 5 : World Reserves of Molybdenum (By Principal Countries)
Table – 3 : Production of Ferro-molybdenum 2009-10 to 2013-14
(In '000 tonnes of molybdenum content)
(In tonnes) Ye a r
Production
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
2822 3090 4362 1076 1231
Source: Monthly Statistics of Mineral Production March 2014.
Table – 4 : Reported Consumption of Ferro-molybdenum, 2011-12 to 2013-14(P) (By Industries) (In tonnes) Industry
2011-12
All Industries Alloy steel Electrode Foundry Iron & steel
678 435 (8) 3 1 (2) 5 0 (8) 162 ( 1 4 )
2012-13 666 435 (8) 22 (2) 50 (8) 159 (10)
2013-14(P) 663 435 (8) 20 (2) 50 (8) 158 (10)
Country
Reserves
World: Total (rounded) Armenia Australia Canada Chile China Iran Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Mexico Mongolia Peru Russia (e) Turkey USA U z b e k i s t a n (e)
11 0 0 0 150 200 260 1800 4300 50 130 100 130 160 450 250 100 2700 60
Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2015.
Table – 6 : World Mine Production of Molybdenum (By Principal Countries)
Figures in parentheses denote the number of units in organised sector. (* Includes actual reported consumption and for estimates made wherever required).
TRADE POLICY As per Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-2014, imports of molybdenum ores & concentrates under heading No. 2613 and molybdenum and articles thereof under heading No. 8102 are allowed freely, except molybdenum waste & scrap (under ITC-HS Code No. 8102 9700) which are restricted.
(In Country World: Total Armenia Canada Chile China Iran Mexico Peru Russia USA Other countries
tonnes of metal content)
2011
2012
2013
263000 4822 8674 40698 103320 3365 10787 19141 4842 63700 3651
256000 5446 8954 35090 104000 3512 11366 16790 4838 60400 5604
270000 5934 9000 38715 e 110000 e 3500 12562 18140 e 4800 e 61000 6349
Source: World Mineral Production, 2009-2013.
11-5
MOLYBDENUM
In North America, most Canadian molybdenum reserves are porphyry molybdenum and porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits in British Columbia. The La Caridad deposit in Mexico was a leading producer.
China Yichun Luming Molybdenum Mining Co. Ltd (a subsidiary of China Railway Resources Group) announced commercial production at its Luming molybdenum mine in Heilongjiang Province was expected to begin in July, 2014. The mine had a capacity to produce 30,000 t/yr of molybdenum concentrate.
Canada TCMC announced that its Endako Mine produced 4,110 tonnes of molybdenum in 2013 compared to 2,810 tonnes in 2012. The Endako operation was an open pit molybdenum mine, concentrator and roaster, 190 km west of Prince George, British Columbia with an estimated mine life of 16 years.
of Molybednum in 2013 as against 10,968 tonnes in 2012. The company also announced that the new molybdenum processing plant at Group Mexico's Buenavista del Cobre Mine in Cananea, "Sonora produced 360 tonne of molybdenum in 2013. Province was expected to begin in July 2014. The mine had a capacity to process 30,000t/yr of molybdenum concentrate.
Peru Cerro Verde Mine continued construction of its large scale expansion project which would expand its concentrator facilities from 120,000 to 360,000 tonnes per day of ore and would have the capacity to produce 6800 tonnes per year molybdenum beginning in 2016.
FOREIGN TRADE Exports
Taseko Mines Ltd produced 680 tonnes of molybdenum in 2013 compared to 598 tonnes produced in 2012 from its Gibraltar mine. The new molybdenum separation facility commissioned in mid 2013 was still in ramp up but significant strides were made in 4 th quarter.
Exports of molybdenum ores & concentrates increased drastically to 351 tonnes in 2013-14 from 107 tonnes in the previous year. In 2013-14, exports were mainly to China (58%) and Mexico ( 34%). Exports of molybdenum and scrap also increased drastically to 77 tonnes in 2013-14 from 10 tonnes in 2012-13. Exports were
Chile
mainly to UK ( 68%) & Netherlands (13%) (Tables - 7 and 8 ).
Corporacion Nacioal del Cobre de Chile (codelco) the state controlled molybdenum & copper producer announced that it produced 23,000 tonnes of molybdenum in 2013 compared to 20,000 tonnes in 2012. Antofagasta plc announced that, in 2013, molybdenum production at its Los Pelambres Mine was 9,000 tonnes a 26% decrease compared to 12,200 tonnes in 2012.
Mexico Group Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. reported that its La Caridad Mine produced a record 11,740 tonnes
Imports Imports of molybdenum ores & concentrate decreased marginally to 5,572 tonnes in 2013-14 from 6,863 tonnes in the previous year. Imports were mainly from Chile, USA and Thailand & Mexico. Imports of molybdenum and scrap also decreased to 339 tonnes in 2013-14 from 487 tonnes in the previous year. China and Austria were the main suppliers (Tables-9 & 10).
11-6
MOLYBDENUM
Table – 7 : Exports of Molybdenum Ore & Conc. (By Countries) 2012-13
2013-14
Country Qty (t) All Countries
Value (L '000)
Qty (t)
Value (L '000)
107
1026
351
324538
Mexico
-
-
120
193944
China
-
-
203
112275
Netherlands
-
-
28
18184
Kuwait
28
144
++
135
Other countries
79
882
-
-
Table – 8 : Exports of Molybdenum & Scrap (By Countries) 2012-13
2013-14
Country Qty (t)
Value (L '000)
Qty (t)
10
11 0 8 1 9
77
161373
++
5630
1
24917
1
21619
++
20992
++
205
52
19109
Germany
1
8198
1
17524
Austria
1
11581
2
15812
++
1466
1
13429
2
10223
1
11218
++
5724
1
10467
Netherlands
-
-
10
3420
Egypt
1
5527
++
3214
Other countries
4
40646
8
21271
All Countries Belgium Japan UK
Singapore Poland USA
11-7
Value (L '000)
MOLYBDENUM
Table – 9 : Imports of Molybdenum Ore and Conc. (By Countries) 2012-13
2013-14
Country
All Countries
Qty (t)
Value (L '000)
Qty (t)
Value (L '000)
6863
7522327
5572
5558080
USA
1981
2002775
1747
1751217
Chile
2736
3001011
1180
1125369
Mexico
495
589074
1098
1100214
Thailand
706
876259
296
389058
Korea Rep, of
148
192469
244
293838
China
127
149761
225
251582
Belgium
119
161734
121
104118
Canada
240
215958
110
92281
-
-
100
88238
52
73129
113
77411
259
260157
338
284754
UAE South Africa Other countries
Table –10 : Imports of Molybdenum & Scrap (By Countries) 2012-13
2013-14
Country Qty (t)
Value (L '000)
Qty (t)
Value (L '000)
All Countries
487
1285590
339
111 9 6 5 8
China
364
832090
208
562681
Austria
62
231487
73
347177
USA
24
81203
25
95542
Germany
27
104715
14
53095
UAE
++
518
7
12823
Hong Kong
++
490
2
11371
Vietnam, Soc.Rep
-
-
4
7626
UK
3
11025
2
5977
Hungary
1
3766
1
5500
Australia
3
10370
1
4825
Other countries
3
9926
2
13041
FUTURE OUTLOOK The principal use of molybdenum to be in chemical and catalyst and as an additive in steel manufacturing, most importantly alloy and stainless steel are expected to continue. Molybdenum plays a vital role in the energy industry and it may become increasingly important factor in environment protection
technology, where it is used in high strength steels for automobiles to reduce weight and improve fuel economy and safety. Molybdenumbased catalysts have a number of important applications in petroleum and plastic industries. In India, it is expected that demand for molybdenum will be increasing and this internal demand for molybdenum will continue to be met through imports.
11-8