DOCSLIB.ORG

Shift in Global Tantalum Mine Production, 2000–2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shift in Global Tantalum Mine Production, 2000–2014 Shift in Global Tantalum Mine Production, 2000–2014 Tantalum has a unique set of tantalum from mine production is econom- (defined as sharing a border with the properties that make it useful in a ically viable in only a few countries. DRC) (U.S. Securities and Exchange number of diverse applications. The Although developed countries Commission, 2012; Chasan, 2015; ability of the metal to store and release dominated tantalum mine production U.S. Department of State, 2015). electrical energy makes it ideally suited in the early 2000s, production today The DRC, Rwanda, and surrounding for use in certain types of capacitors is dominated by countries in the Great countries are not globally significant that are widely used in modern elec- Lakes Region of Africa (figs. 1 and 2). sources of tin, tungsten, or gold, tronics. Approximately 60 percent of There is concern that the sales of accounting for only about 2 percent global tantalum consumption is in the minerals, including columbite-tantalite or of the mined world supply for each of electronics industry (Papp, 2015). The “coltan,” a mineral from which tantalum these elements. The region has, however, ductility and corrosion resistance of the is derived, have helped finance rebel evolved to become the world’s largest metal lends itself to application in the groups accused of violating human rights producer of mined tantalum. chemical processing industry, and its high as part of the continuing armed conflict A further complication of the melting point and high strength reten- in the Democratic Republic of the Congo production of tantalum stems from the tion at elevated temperatures make it an (DRC) and neighboring countries. These opacity of the tantalum market. Unlike important component of super alloys used accusations have prompted the passage most base and precious metals, tantalum in aircraft engines (Global Advanced of legislation in the United States to concentrates are not publicly traded Metals Pty Ltd, 2010). curb the procurement of these mineral through commodities exchanges but As a major industrialized nation, the commodities, referred to as “conflict are bought and sold through networks United States is a leading consumer of minerals,” from the DRC. Specifically, of dealers and on contract between tantalum and tantalum-containing products. section 1502 of the 2010 Dodd-Frank producers and consumers, some of whom Domestic deposits typically are of low Wall Street Reform and Consumer may not provide accurate statistical grade, and no tantalum has been recovered Protection Act (Public Law 111–203, data concerning the amounts, origins, from mining activities in the United States 124 Stat. 2213–2218) requires companies and destination of the concentrates since 1959 (Wessel, 1961). Consequently, that source tantalum, tin, tungsten, and (Browning, 2015; Tantalum-Niobium the United States is nearly completely gold (3TG) to perform due diligence International Study Center [TIC], reliant on imports to meet its domestic on their supply chains to determine 2015). Some price data can be found in consumption of tantalum for economic and if the materials they use originate trade journals or in other publications; national security needs. The recovery of from the DRC or adjoining countries however, there are no recognized official A. 2000 B. 2014 Other African countries Other African Australia 7% countries 4% Rwanda 12% 12% Brazil 12% Bolivia <1% China 5% Democratic Republic of Australia the Congo 45% 9% Democratic Republic of Rwanda China 5% the Congo 50% 17% Brazil Canada 5% 17% Bolivia <1% Total=1,100 metric tons of tantalum Total=1,200 metric tons of tantalum contained in concentrates contained in concentrates Figure 1. Mine production of tantalum contained in concentrates, by country of origin, for 2000 (A ) and 2014 (B ). U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2015 –3079 U.S. Geological Survey December 2015 set exchange prices for either concen- of knowledge. Data limitations prevent a 45 percent share of global produc- trate or tantalum metal. Because price is estimating the amounts of potentially tion, mostly from the Greenbushes and determined by negotiation between buyer recoverable tantalum contained in Wodgina Mines. Other leading producers and seller (TIC, 2015), published prices tantalum and tin concentrates that are in that year were Brazil (17 percent), for concentrate are probably not represen- produced annually in a number of Rwanda (12 percent), and the DRC tative of global prices paid for concentrate. countries including Malaysia, Russia, (9 percent) (figs. 1A, 2). Beginning in The development of a mine-to-market and Thailand. Most of this production is 2006, the Greenbushes Mine began to supply-chain analysis is complicated and a byproduct of the mining and smelting reduce production, and, by 2009, the difficult because many of the industry of cassiterite, an ore mineral for tin, Greenbushes and Wodgina Mines were participants that produce, trade, and and, to a much lesser extent, wolframite placed on care and maintenance, ending consume tantalum do not publish statis- and scheelite, ore minerals for tungsten. Australia’s position as the world’s leading tical information, contracts are long term Tantalum contained in slags from past producer of tantalum in concentrate. between miners and buyers, and much of smelting activities in Australia, Brazil, The estimated annual production of the industry is vertically integrated. Portugal, and several Asian countries also tantalum contained in tantalum and tin As a result of these and other is excluded from the estimates because concentrates in the DRC and Rwanda considerations, tantalum is considered of data limitations. The level of infor- was relatively modest for the period 2000 by many to be a “critical” commodity mation required to develop estimates of through 2006, averaging 101 t and 73 t, (National Research Council, 2007; undocumented tantalum production that respectively. Combined, the contribution of Erdmann and Graedel, 2011; Meinert, originated in conflict and some noncon- the two countries to tantalum-in-concentrate 2014; Geoscience Australia, 2015). This flict areas in Africa, South America, and production among the countries studied fact sheet identifies and addresses the some other locations was not available. averaged less than 15 percent during the major geographic shifts in the sources of Several major events during the 7-year period. In 2007, however, reported mine production of tantalum which have period 2000 to 2014 influenced mine production in the DRC increased to 320 t of occurred over the past 15 years, some of production (fig. 2). These events included tantalum in concentrate, nearly three times the factors that drove these shifts, and (1) the effects of rapid increases in the average of the previous years, and mine some of the related consequences. tantalum demand and consumption that production in Rwanda increased to 170 t One of the activities of the U.S. resulted in higher prices just prior to the of tantalum in concentrate (fig. 2). The Geological Survey National Minerals year 2000 during the “dot-com boom,” combined production from the 2 countries, Information Center (USGS–NMIC) followed by the bursting of the “dot-com which share a common border, represented is to analyze global supply chains and bubble” in 2000 that lingered into 2002; nearly 35 percent of the total estimated characterize major components of (2) the global recession in 2008–2009, mine production from the 15 countries mineral and material flows from ore which decreased demand for most studied. The increase in mine production extraction through processing to first mineral commodities; (3) regional armed from the two countries compensated to tier products. These analyses support conflicts in the Great Lakes Region of a large degree for the loss of production the core mission of the USGS–NMIC Africa, primarily the DRC and Rwanda, that resulted from the suspension of the as the Federal entity responsible for the through much of the period analyzed; higher-cost Australian mining operations collection, analysis, and dissemination of and (4) proposed and enacted legislative and from the termination of releases of objective, unbiased, factual information action in Europe and the United States tantalum materials from the U.S. National on minerals essential to the U.S. economy in response to issues related to conflict Defense Stockpile. and national security. minerals, such as implementation of the The increase in production in the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010. DRC and Rwanda and the decline in Global Tantalum Mine Production The data indicate that the total production in Australia were already amount of tantalum contained in tantalum underway prior to the global economic The estimated annual mine produc- and tin concentrates in the countries downturn in 2008–2009 and the drop tion of tantalum contained in tantalum studied averaged about 1,300 metric tons in tantalum prices. This was a time of and tin concentrates for 2000 –2014 is per year (t/yr) (expressed as tantalum reduced demand for electronics and shown in figure 2 for 15 countries. The contained in concentrate) for the period a drop in the price of tantalum. The USGS–NMIC analysis does not address 2000 to 2014. Tantalum derived from actions on the part of the Australian the amount of tantalum ultimately mining, the focus of this fact sheet, mining companies were reportedly recovered from these concentrates, which is a component of total supply, which taken in response
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Division of Mines and Mining
    STATE OF WASHINGTON ARTHUR B. LANGLIE, GOVERNOR Department of Conservation and Development JOHN BROOKE FINK, Director THIRD BIENNIAL REPORT of the DIVISION OF MINES AND MINING For the Period Commencing January 1, 1939 and Ending January 1, 1941 By THOMAS B. HILL, SUPERVISOR J . w. MELROSE, GEOLOGIST OLYMPIA STATE PRI NTINC PLANT DIVISION OF MINES AND MINING Hon. John Brooke Fink, Director, Department of Conservation and Development, Olympia, Washington. Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the third biennial report of the Division of Mines and Mining, covering the period from January l, 1939, to January 1, 1941. Respectfully, THOMAS B. HILL, Supervisor. DIVISION OF MINES AND MINING THOMAS B. HILL Supervisor SUMMARY OF MINERAL INFORMATION The present widespread interest in the mineral resources of Washington had its beginning in 1933 when the Director of the Department of Conserva­ tion and Devlopment devoted a substantial part of an allocation of $80,000 from Washington Emergency Relief Administration to mineral investigations. Two years later, the Division of Mines and Mining was created, and has continued the investigations, the work of compiling information and promoting the development of the mineral resources. Extensive information had been developed on the mineral resources of the State in the previous twenty-five years, largely through the Washington Geological Survey and the Division of Geology. This information had been published in some 50 or more bulletins and 1·eports, about half of which are now out of print. The information, while extensive, was scattered and in many instances fragmentary. The result of the work begun by the Department in 1933, and continued by this Division since 1935, is that now information is available on all the known mineral occurrences of the State.
    [Show full text]
  • New Enterprise Project
    NI 43-101 Technical Report Assessing the Au, Cu, Porphyry Potential of the New Enterprise Project Maynard Mining District, Kingman, Arizona, United States of America FOR Pershing Resources Company Inc. 200 South Virginia Street, 8th Floor Reno, NV 89501 AUTHORS: Edward Walker, Ph.D., P.Geo. Jim Renaud, Ph.D., P.Geo. Natalie Pietrzak-Renaud, Ph.D., P.Geo. Effective Date : June 18, 2018 Signature Date: May 22, 2018 Table of Contents Item 1: Summary .......................................................................................................................... 7 Item 2: Introduction.................................................................................................................... 12 Item 3: Reliance on Other Experts .............................................................................................. 14 Item 4: Property Description and Location ................................................................................ 14 Item 5: Accessibility, Climate, Local Resources, Infrastructure, and Physiography ................... 27 Location and Access ............................................................................................................... 27 Climate and Vegetation .......................................................................................................... 27 Local Resources and Infrastructure ........................................................................................ 27 Physiography .........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage – Greenbushes Lithium
    Appendix C – Assessment of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage – Greenbushes Lithium Mine Expansion – 2018 Mining Proposal (GHD 2018) and Talison Leaching Study – Stage 2 AMD Testing Results (GHD 2019) GHD | Report for Talison Lithium Australia Pty Ltd – Greenbushes Mine Expansion – Works Approval 1, 6136944 TALISON LITHIUM Talison Lithium Australia Pty Ltd Assessment of acid and metalliferous drainage Greenbushes Lithium Mine Expansion - 2018 Mining Proposal July 2018 WATER | ENERGY & RESOURCES | ENVIRONMENT | PROPERTY & BUILDINGS | TRANSPORTATION Executive summary GHD was engaged by Talison Lithium Australia Pty Ltd to undertake an Acid and Metalliferous Drainage assessment (AMD), to demonstrate the leaching potential of the future tailings and waste rock due to the proposed expansion of the mine - the Greenbushes Lithium Mine, located at Greenbushes Western Australia. The scope of works for this AMD study included the collation and geo-statistical analysis of Talison’s mineralogical assay data base - for the proposed waste rock and ore, and a review of the body of information relating to previous AMD assessments of the previously mined waste rock and existing tailings facilities. Given the continuity of mineralogy between the previously mined material and the proposed mined material (waste rock and ore), the findings of previous AMD assessments, relating to the existing waste rock and tailings facilities, are considered reliable indicators of the future AMD risk. This report is subject to, and must be read in conjunction with, the limitations set out in Section 1.3 and the assumptions and qualifications contained throughout the Report. Acidic drainage risk The risk that the tailings (derived from ore processing) will produce adverse quantities of acid is considered low, given the low sulphur content (average 0.04%).
    [Show full text]
  • Estimation of Capital Costs for Establishing Coal Mines in South Africa
    ESTIMATION OF CAPITAL COSTS FOR ESTABLISHING COAL MINES IN SOUTH AFRICA Moshe Mohutsiwa A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering Johannesburg, 2015 DECLARATION I declare that this research report is my own unaided work. It is being submitted to the degree of Master of Science to the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. (Signature of Candidate) day of year ii ABSTRACT Coal is one of the most abundant mineral resources in South Africa and it is predominantly used in electricity generation in the country. Of all the mineral resources in South Africa, development of coal resources attracted most of the financial investment between 2010 and 2013. Development of mining projects requires estimation of capital and operating costs in the early stages of the project’s life. Estimation of costs is an essential exercise that assists on deciding the future of mining projects. Despite all the investment in the South African coal mining sector, there is still little consistency in unit capital costs invested/required to develop coal mining projects. Lack of research within the area of coal mining projects’ costs is attributable to a lack of publicly available information. Research in this area will enable investors and operators in the coal mining sector to be able to assess financial viability early in the project life. This study reviewed coal mining projects across the world, looking at publicly available capital costs. The study further recognised similarities between the South African and Indian coal mining sectors thereby enabling the research to leverage data from the Indian coal mining sector to estimate capital costs in South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin Reconciling Economic Growth and Forest Protection Public Disclosure Authorized
    Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin Reconciling Economic Growth and Forest Protection Public Disclosure Authorized WORKING PAPer 4 | Mining Kirsten Hund Carole Megevand with Edilene Pereira Gomes Public Disclosure Authorized Marta Miranda Erik W. Reed Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized APRIL 2013 Deforestation Trends in the Congo Basin Reconciling Economic Growth and Forest Protection WORKING PAPer 4 | Mining Kirsten Hund Carole Megevand with Edilene Pereira Gomes Marta Miranda Erik Reed APRIL 2013 Working Paper 4: Mining iii CONTENTS ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................................................vii AcknoWLedgments .................................................................................................................................ix IntrodUctIon .............................................................................................................................................xi Chapter 1. MIneraL WeaLth IN the Congo BasIN: LargeLY Untapped.........................1 Geology and Associated Mineral Resources ................................................................................................1 Mining Sector in the Congo Basin ....................................................................................................................3 Types of Mining Operations ........................................................................................................................4
    [Show full text]
  • Gold-Bearing Polymetallic Veins and Replacement Deposits Part I
    Gold-bearing Polymetallic Veins and Replacement Deposits Part I U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1857-C AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the cur­ rent-year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Sur­ vey publications released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that are listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" are no longer available. Prices of reports released to the open files are given in the listing "U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports," updated month­ ly, which is for sale in microfiche from the U.S. Geological Survey, Books and Open-File Reports Section, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225. Reports released through the NTIS may be obtained by writing to the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161; please include NTIS report number with inquiry. Order U.S. Geological Survey publications by mail or over the counter from the offices given below. BY MAIL OVER THE COUNTER Books Books Professional Papers, Bulletins, Water-Supply Papers, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Circulars, publications of general in­ Books of the U.S. Geological Survey are available over the terest (such as leaflets, pamphlets, booklets), single copies of Earthquakes counter at the following Geological Survey Public Inquiries Offices, all & Volcanoes, Preliminary Determination of Epicenters, and some mis­ of which are authorized agents of the Superintendent of Documents: cellaneous reports, including some of the foregoing series that have gone out of print at the Superintendent of Documents, are obtainable by mail from WASHINGTON, D.C.-Main Interior Bldg., 2600 corridor, 18th and CSts.,NW.
    [Show full text]
  • An Outline of Mining Law
    CHAPMAN TRIPP LEGAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC. AN OUTLINE OF MINING LAW by Dr. Kenneth Palmer LL.M. Harvard, Sjd Virginia, Dip.T.P. Paper presented at Auckland Law Faculty Seminar Series 1982 at University of Auckland I SSN 0111 - 3410 ISBN 0-908581-25-4 -28- AN OUTLINE OF MINING LAW 35 The Commissioner for the Environment could be called as a witness by a party: Amoco case, supra n 3. Introduction 36 See Amoco case, supra n 3, at D 928. Twelve years ago the Legal Research Foundation sponsored the 37 Me.adow Mushrooms Ltd v Paparua County Council (1980) 8 NZTPA 76. Australasian Mining Symposium held at the University of Auckland. During the proceedings, seven distinguished speakers covered such 38 As to the legitimate expectation doctrine, see Smitty's Industries Ltd v Attorney-General [1980] 1 NZLR 355, 367-370 (proper reasons to be topics as Canadian trends in mining and New Zealand comparisons, given for declining application). an era of change in New Zealand mining law having regard to the 39 Mining Act 1971, ss 103D, 103E. The variation power overcomes doubts pending Mining Bill 1970 (which became the Mining Act 1971), deep- raised in Kopara case [1982] NZ Recent Law 115, 118 (issue 7 - sea mining, engineering aspects of mining, conservation in mining deletion of conditions preventing raising of finance upheld). l in America, financial aspects of mining, and taxation questions. 40 Ibid, ss 116-125, 131-134, 138-151. As to default, cf Bell v Gibson The present paper is on a much more modest scale, being limited to [1934] NZLR s 207.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin 42, Gold in Washington
    State of Washington ARTHUR B. LANGLIE, Governor Department of Conservation and Development W. A. GALBRAITH, Director DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SHELDON L. GLOVER, Supervisor Bulletin No. 42 GOLD IN WASHINGTON By MARSHALL T. HUNTTING State of Washington ARTHUR B. LANGLIE, Governor Department of Conservation and Development W. A. GALBRAITH, Director DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SHELDON L. GLOVER, Supervisor Bulletin No. 42 GOLD IN WASHINGTON By MARSHALL T. HUNTTING OLYMPIA STATE'. PRiNTiNG PLANT 1955 For sale by Department of Conservation and Development, Olympia, Washington. Price, one dollar. FOREWORD Gold, throughout the ages, has been synonymous with wealth. For thousands of years, it has been the foremost medium of ex­ change in most countries. Everyone is familiar with gold and with the romance associated with its recovery from occurrences in nature. In fact, it is probable that gold is the first, and to many the only, metal thought of when mining is mentioned. Certainly, it is the metal first thought of under ordinary conditions when a person decides to become a prospector and seek bis fortune on the streams and in the mountains. This is easily understood, for, of all metals, gold is the most simply and easily recovered from its containing formation, whether it occurs as a lode or as a placer deposit. A minimum of experience and equipment is required, and. when won, gold is tangible wealth, requiring little or no treatment to be ex­ changeable for goods. The interest in gold shown by the larger mining concerns has declined in late years because its fixed price does not compensate for the continually increasing costs of mining-in labor.
    [Show full text]
  • Mineral Industry R E'port
    -;::_,:; v::.,_-:;,"i.~_;;-..:~r:-:fiY:-'"_.~---,..,.·_·.·-,:1-~iJy!t?,,.-;\ ., Ji'i¥?$hlf~S"'S"- •. ~-~~"'):-·~.-,.,..,_:."'·~·--·~~,,.,...,~,,,"~;·).,. ··~····-~'''' ,., .. ':--~' rcA -'3 ~::,-.cc, ....; ·· Indian and Northern • Affaires indiennes T . Affairs Canada et du Nord Canada __ ,.. ~- '" , MINERAL:' .• INDUSTRY R E'PORT :; ,,: BY J.A. MORIN M. MARCHAND Published under authority of the Han. John Munro, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Whitehorse, 1980. QS-8254-000-EE-Al Catalogue No. R71-9/1978- lE ISBN 0-660- 10587-X Cette publication peut aussi etre obtenue en francais. YUKON TERRITORY MINING I DISTRICTS I 0 50 100 150 ~---;;;~£~~_j200 I L KILOMETRES I DAWSO MINING ssooo'1 STRICT ALASKA J '"\ I ( I MAYO MINING~ NORTHWEST DISTRICT '-'"""\ TERRITORIES '), I szooo·~ I j WHITEHORSE MIN WATSON LAKE DISTRICT MINING DISTRICT l WHITEHORSE .. 6oooo•- ~'/ \ -- WATSON LAKE 0 ~ BRIT/SHCO -_,--------.,.- 0 -., LUMB/A - -0 ~ ·o0 0 -- g 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~ "' N " "' - - TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Page Introduction .................... 1 Figure Facilities of the Geology Section 1 Outline of Mining Districts .. Frontispiece Mineral Production of Yukon ...... 2 2 Properties Active in 1g78, Mayo Mining District ............. 5 Mineral Exploration Highlights, Yukon Territory, 1978 . 2 3 Geological Map of The FAIR claims 12 Mayo Mining District . ... ... .. .... 5 4 Kiwi Lake Claim Holdings .... 19 Dawson Mining District . .. ..... 25 5 Properties Active i n 1978, Dawson Mining District . 25 Whitehorse Mining District ....... 32 6 Properties Active in 1978, Whitehorse Watson Lake Mining District ..... 49 Mining District . .. 32 Coal Reports .................... 73 7 Properties Active in 1978, Watson Lake Mining District . .. ..... 49 Core Stored in Library ..........
    [Show full text]
  • 'Conflict Minerals' Initiatives in DR Congo
    ‘Conflict Minerals’ initiatives in DR Congo: Perceptions of local mining communities Ken Matthysen & Andrés Zaragoza Montejano 1 Editorial ‘Conflict Minerals’ initiatives in DR Congo: Perceptions of local mining communities Authors: Ken Matthysen & Andrés Zaragoza Montejano (IPIS) Editing: Fiona Southward, Steven Spittaels, & Anna Bulzomi (IPIS); Frédéric Triest (EurAc); Chantal Daniels (Christian Aid); Zobel Behalal (CCFD); Koen Warmenbol (11.11.11.) Layout: Anne Hullebroeck Front Cover image: Artisanal miners working in Kalimbi mine, near Nyabibwe (IPIS, April 2013) Antwerp, November 2013 Acknowledgements: This project has been made possible through the support of Humanity United. The report reflects the views of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of Humanity United. The report has been developed in cooperation with the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc). 2 Executive Summary The exploitation of minerals is an important source of income for many communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Yet this mineral wealth also plays a significant role in the continuation of insecurity in parts of the country. Revenues from mineral trade have given armed groups the means to operate, and provided off-budget funding to (often poorly paid) state security forces. Whilst recognising that this mineral wealth is not one of the root-causes of conflict, their trade does play a central role in funding and fuelling conflicts in the DRC, further weakening the already fragile government. Over recent years, several domestic, regional and international initiatives have been developed to address the so-called ‘conflict minerals’ problem and the high level of informality in the DRC’s artisanal mining sector.
    [Show full text]
  • Mineral Occurrences in the Emergency Withdrawal Area and Adjacent Lands in the Great Salt Lake Desert
    UTAH GEOLOGICAL AND MINERAL SURVEY REPORT OF INVESTIGATION NO. 200 MINERAL OCCURRENCES IN THE EMERGENCY WITHDRAWAL AREA AND ADJACENT LANDS IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT by J. Wallace Gwynn Keith Clem Mike Shubat Bryce Tripp Paul Sturm September 1985 I. Introduction - This mineral report was prepared to fulfill the requirements of PL 94-579 Sec. 204 (c)(2) for the emergency withdrawal of a portion of the Great Salt Lake Desert. This report covers the actual proposed withdrawal area and the surrounding region (fig. 1 and 2) from township 2S to BN and from range 8W to IBW. A legal description of the actual area subject to inundation is contained in a seperate land report. Geologic data was compiled from published and unpublished Utah Geological and Mineral Survey material and other outside sources. Hellmut H. Doelling's 1980 publication, "Geology and mineral resources of Box Elder County, Utah" and Lehi Hintze's 1973 book "Geologic history of Utah" are probably the best general references for this area. No field work was deemed necessary in light of the availability of adequate geological information. II. General Geology Mountain ranges adjacent to areas affected by the West Desert pumping project are dominantly comprised of Paleozoic to lower Mesozoic carbonate rocks (Fig. 3). Rocks of Cambrian through Devonian age represent shallow marine miogeoclinal deposits and are composed of limestone and dolomite with minor sandstone and shale. The thickness of the miogeoclinal rocks ranges from 15,000 to 16,000 feet (Hintze, 1973). Mississippian to lowermost Mesozoic rocks were largely deposited in the Oquirrh Basin and are comprised of interbedded limestone, sandstone, and shale.
    [Show full text]
  • Columbite-Tantalite (“Coltan”) Ores Frank Melcher(1), Maria A
    PPLIED A t Y o G M O I N L E O R E A G L June 2008 r o D f Number 23 E P Y O T S E SGA I I SGA T C S O S News Fingerprinting of conflict minerals: columbite-tantalite (“coltan”) ores Frank Melcher(1), Maria A. Sitnikova(1), Torsten Graupner(1), Nicola Martin(1), Thomas Oberthür(1), Friedhelm Henjes-Kunst(1), Eike Gäbler(1), Axel Gerdes(2), Helene Brätz(3), Don W. Davis(4) and Stijn Dewaele(5) (1) Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany ([email protected]) (2) Institute of Geosciences, Petrology & Geochemistry, Altenhöferallee, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (3) Institute of Geography, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany (4) Jack Satterly Geochronology Laboratory, Department of Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 22 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B1 (5) Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 30-80 Tervuren, Belgium Introduction Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Namibia). More- over, Africa is estimated to host about three CONTENTS Illegal mining of gold, diamonds, copper, quarters of the world’s tantalum resources. Fingerprinting of conflict minerals 1 cobalt and, in the last decade, “coltan” The term “blood coltan” was coined in the has fuelled ongoing armed conflicts and Congolese civil war, as the sale of this mine- From the President of SGA 2 civil war in a number of African countries. ral fuelled fighting especially in the eastern “Coltan” – an important tantalum source - provinces of the DRC.
    [Show full text]