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Specialty Metals in Canada

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Specialty Metals In Canada G.J. Simandl, E.A. Prussin, and N. Brown British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2012-7 Ministry of Energy and Mines Recommended citation: Simandl, G.J., Prussin, E.A., and Brown, N., 2012. Specialty Metals In Canada. British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2012-7. Cover Photo: ++ Eudialyte [Na4(Ca,Ce)2(Fe ,Mn,Y)ZrSi8O22(OH,Cl)2], a rare earth element-bearing mineral (pink). Other major constituents are feld- spar (white and gray), sodic amphibole (dark green) and mosandrite and/or agrellite (graysh-buff). Sample from the Specimen Pit (Trench 1 of the Matamec Explorations Inc.), Kipawa, Quebec. Canadian quarter for scale. British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines Specialty Metals in Canada Simandl, G. J.1,2, Prussin, E.A.1 and Brown, N.1 1British Columbia Geological Survey, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Victoria, B.C. 2School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. Abstract Specialty metals (SMs) are critical for the development of green technologies, essential raw materials for high technology industries, and deemed strategic for national security by the USA and several European countries. More than one thousand Ta, Nb, Zr, Hf, Li, REE and Be occurrences are known in Canada. Only two Canadian SM deposits are being mined, the ferroniobium producing St. Honoré carbonatite (Niobec) and the Cs- and Ta- producing Bernic Lake deposit (Tanco Mine). Several Ta, Nb, REE and Li prospects are reaching pre-feasibility or feasibility stages. Examples are: Crevier Township, Nb-Ta (QC); Aley Carbonatite, Nb (BC); Blue River, Ta-Nb (BC); Nechalacho, REE (NT); Strange Lake, REE (QC); Kipawa, REE (QC); LaCorne Township, Li (QC); and Wabouchi (also known as Lac des Montagnes) Li (QC). Ontario has the greatest number of occurrences (373), followed by Quebec (195), NWT (115), British Columbia (108), Newfoundland (86), and the remaining provinces, Yukon and Nunavut (220, combined). These occurrences can be described as anomalies (140), showings (563), prospects (204), developed prospects (109), past producers (23), current producers (8), Li-bearing oilfield brines (48), and oil sands by- products (2). Geologically, the occurrences can be grouped into 14 categories: carbonatite/syenite-related; peralkaline intrusion-related; pegmatite/granite/aplite; REE ± P veins; placer/paleoplacer; sedimentary phosphates; REE- enriched Iron oxide copper gold ore (IOCG); sandstone-hosted xenotime; REE as uranium by-products; skarns; greisen/veins; Li-bearing brines; oils sands by-products; and other/unknown. Canada has excellent geological potential to supply SMs worldwide. British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2012-7 1 British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines Introduction (LREE) and heavy (HREE) categories. Traditional definition of LREEs The terms “specialty metal” (SM) and includes La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd “rare metal” are synonymous. They and the term HREEs covers Tb, Dy, refer to uncommon, nonferrous metals Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. More recently, used in quantities of typically less than industry defined LREEs as La-Eu and 150000 tonnes/year or derived from HREEs as Gd-Lu series. Y is also geographically restricted areas. The commonly considered an HREE, based term SM was adopted by the Targeted on its geological association and Geoscience Initiative-4 (TGI-4) chemical properties. Sc is not grouped program and will be used throughout either with LREEs or HREEs. this paper. Examples of SMs include: Promethium (Pm) does not occur in tantalum (Ta); niobium (Nb); zirconium nature. Germanium (Ge), gallium (Ga) (Zr); hafnium (Hf); lithium (Li); and vanadium (V) are also classified as beryllium (Be), and rare earth elements SMs, but they are excluded from this (REE). According to the International study because they are not covered Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry under the mandate of the Specialty (IUPA) the term “rare earth Metals component of the TGI-4 element” (REE) encompasses yttrium program (Simandl, 2010b). (Y), scandium (Sc) and the lanthanide The tonnage and value of specialty series: lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), metals mined worldwide is minor praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), compared to common industrial metals promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), such as iron, copper, nickel, zinc, and europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), lead. Nonetheless, high technology terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), industries need a secure supply of SMs holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium at competitive prices. Although other (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium materials can substitute for several (Lu). This definition is used herein. SMs, they are typically more expensive REEs are further subdivided into light or less effective. For example: British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2012-7 2 British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines palladium and ultra-stable zeolite can have a SM specified either as a primary replace REE’s used as catalysts; or secondary commodity. In these cases andalusite, chromite, and kyanite can territorial geologists felt very strongly substitute for zircon in refractories; and that based on the deposit type, Zn-Carbon and Ni-Cd can be used in geological settings, and similarity with batteries instead of Li. Many countries other occurrences that SMs have been consider several SMs essential for probably overlooked or not reported. national security as highlighted in the In the following we discuss the 2010 “Review of Critical Raw global sources and production of Materials for Europe”, spearheaded by specialty metals, describe the the European Commission. Table 1 geological setting of Canadian deposits describes the prices, uses, and market and occurrences, and consider applied information for selected SMs. mineralogical and metallurgical aspects. The inventory presented on the accompanying map (Fig. 1) and in Global sources and Table 2 is current as of Fall, 2011. It is production of specialty based mainly on provincial and territorial databases, and documents metals occurrences and deposits that have at Rare Earth Elements least one specialty metal listed as a Global production for 2011 is estimated commodity. The provincial data were between 100000 and 140000 tonnes of collected, merged, examined, and contained REOs. China currently classified using 14 deposit categories controls the REE market by using a based on the association between the system of mining, separation and mineralization and the host rock. The smelting, and export quotas. The high resulting compilation was sent for technology industry and governments verification to provincial and territorial of industrialized countries are geologists. Six data entries in Yukon concerned about China’s control of the Territory (#s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) do not market and recent volatility of REO British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2012-7 3 British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines prices (Simandl, 2010a). More than fertilizer production (Simandl et al., 556 REE exploration projects are active 2011a, b, c). Other potential sources worldwide. Of these, 296 are include seafloor occurrences, which grassroots (no drilling), 157 have have recently received attention (Kato limited drilling, 66 are in the advanced et al., 2011). exploration stage, 26 are in the pre- feasibility stage, 7 are at the feasibility Niobium stage, and 4 are under construction The global Nb supply for 2011 is (Intierra, 2012). New drilling results estimated at 63000 tonnes of contained were announced from 54 projects; 19 Nb (Papp, 2012a). Brazil (58000 are in Canada and 12 are in Australia tonnes) and Canada (4 400 tonnes) are (Intierra, 2012). Under the market the main producing countries. conditions that follow the law of supply Niobium is traded mostly in the form of and demand (without production quotas ferroniobium and as niobium alloys and or the governmental interferences), only metal. Most Nb is used in steel (75%) the best of the above primary REE and superalloys (25%). For 2011, the deposits will reach the production stage value of US consumption is expected to and remain economically viable over an be about $400 million, as measured by extended period of time. The quality of the value of imports (Papp, 2012a). a REE deposit is determined by World Nb reserves were reported to be mineralogy (Simandl, 2010a), grade, 3 million tonnes of contained Nb (Papp, HREE-LREE ratio, tonnage, depth and 2012a). shape of the ore zone, proven and simple metallurgy, infrastructure, and Tantalum environmental constraints plus the Global Ta supply for 2011 is estimated availability of labour. at 790 tonnes of contained Ta (Papp, High potential exists for recovery of 2012b). According to Mining Journal substantial tonnage of REE as a by- (2012), approximately 40% is being product of uranium and/or phosphate recovered from tin slags. The remainder British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2012-7 4 British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines is divided equally between primary Ta Canada and Australia or to the mines and secondary concentrates, development of currently sub-economic which consist largely of columbite, deposits. struverrite, and recycled materials. The main producers are: Mibra mine in Zirconium/Hafnium Nazareno (Brazil), with a capacity of Global production of zirconium 181 tonnes Ta2O5/year; Kenticha mine concentrates for 2011 is estimated at (Ethiopia), producing 200000 lb of more than 1.4 million tonnes of Ta2O5/year; and Lovozero (Russia) contained Zr. Substantial increase in producing 120000 lb/year (Mining demand since 2010
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