2013 Minerals Yearbook MOLYBDENUM [ADVANCE RELEASE] U.S. Department of the Interior April 2015 U.S. Geological Survey MOLYBDENUM By Désirée E. Polyak Domestic survey data and tables were prepared by Raymond I. Eldridge III, statistical assistant, and the world production table was prepared by Lisa D. Miller, international data coordinator. In the United States, mine production of molybdenum ore, and all responded, representing 100% of U.S. production concentrate in 2013 decreased slightly to 60,700 metric tons (t) listed in table 1. from the revised 61,500 t in 2012. Primary molybdenum As of December 31, 2013, U.S. rated capacity for mines production continued at three U.S. operations accounting and mills was estimated to be about 98,900 metric tons per for 53% of total U.S. molybdenum production. Byproduct year (t/yr) of contained metal. Rated capacity is defined as molybdenum production continued at eight U.S. operations the maximum quantity of product that can be produced in a accounting for 47% of total U.S. molybdenum production. period of time on a normally sustainable long-term operating World mine production of molybdenum was estimated at rate, based on the physical equipment of the plant and given 258,000 t in both 2012 and 2013 (table 1). The U.S. share of acceptable routine operating procedures involving energy, labor, world production was 24% in 2013. Reported U.S. consumption maintenance, and materials. Capacity included plants that were of primary molybdenum products, not including molybdenum temporarily closed but could be brought into production within a concentrates, decreased by 4% in 2013 compared with that of short period of time with minimal capital expenditure. 2012 (table 3). Primary molybdenum production continued at the Henderson Molybdenum is a refractory metallic element used principally Mine in Colorado and the Thompson Creek Mine in Idaho. as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel, and superalloys to Molybdenum production ceased at the Ashdown Mine in enhance hardenability, strength, toughness, and wear- and Nevada and the Questa Mine in New Mexico. Freeport- corrosion-resistance. To achieve desired metallurgical McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) announced that its properties, molybdenum, primarily in the form of molybdic Climax Mine produced 8,620 t of molybdenum in 2013 oxide (MoO3, called MoX) or ferromolybdenum (FeMo), is compared with 3,180 t of molybdenum produced in 2012. The commonly used in combination with or added to chromium, Climax open pit mine was commissioned in the second quarter manganese, nickel, niobium (columbium), tungsten, or other of 2012 and included a 25,000-metric-ton-per-day (t/d) mill alloy metals. The versatility of molybdenum in enhancing a facility (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 2014a, p. 52). variety of alloy properties has ensured it a significant role in The Henderson Mine produced 13,600 t of molybdenum in contemporary industrial technology, which increasingly requires 2013 compared with 15,400 t of molybdenum produced in 2012 materials that can sustain high stress, expanded temperature (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 2014b, p. 13). The ranges, and highly corrosive environments. Significant uses of Climax and Henderson Mines produced high-purity, chemical- molybdenum are as a refractory metal and in numerous chemical grade molybdenum concentrates, which typically are further applications, including catalysts, lubricants, and pigments. processed into value-added molybdenum chemical products. Molybdenum has become increasingly more important in green The Henderson operation consisted of a large underground technology, particularly in biofuels, catalysts, ethanol, solar mining complex that feeds a 32,000-t/d concentrator. Henderson panels, and wind power. had the capacity to produce 18,140 t/yr of molybdenum U.S. molybdenum reserves were estimated to be about (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., 2014b, p. 13). The 2.7 million metric tons (Mt), about 31% of world molybdenum majority of the molybdenum concentrate produced at Henderson reserves. About 90% of U.S. reserves occur in large, low-grade was shipped to FCX’s Fort Madison, IA, processing facility. porphyry molybdenum deposits mined or anticipated to be Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc. (TCMC) owned the mined primarily for molybdenum and in low-grade porphyry Thompson Creek open pit molybdenum mine and mill near copper deposits as an associated metal sulfide. These deposits Challis, ID; a metallurgical roasting facility in Langeloth, PA; are in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New and a 75% joint-venture interest in the Endako open pit mine, Mexico, and Utah. Other molybdenum sources do not contribute mill, and roasting facility in northern British Columbia, Canada. significantly to U.S. reserves. The molybdenum concentrate produced at the Thompson Creek Mine was transported to the Langeloth facility, which produced Production ferromolybdenum products, molybdenum trioxide, and other specialty products. The Langeloth facility also processed Domestic molybdenum mine production data were nonmolybdenum catalysts for various customers, primarily derived from three separate voluntary surveys by the U.S. in the food industry. TCMC had two high-grade underground Geological Survey. These surveys are “Molybdenum Ore and molybdenum deposits—the Davidson deposit near Smithers, Concentrate” (annual), “Molybdenum Concentrate” (monthly), British Columbia, Canada, and the Mount Emmons deposit and “Molybdenum Products and Molybdenum Concentrates” near Crested Butte, CO (Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc., (monthly). Surveys were sent to all 11 U.S. operations that 2013, p. 11). currently produce molybdenum concentrates and products from MOLYBDENUM—2013 [ADVANCE RELEASE] 50.1 TCMC announced that its Thompson Creek Mine produced in 2013, compared with 9,400 t in 2012 (Rio Tinto plc, 2014, 9,480 t of molybdenum in 2013, a 29% increase from 7,370 t p. 213). In April, the Bingham Canyon Mine experienced a of molybdenum produced in 2012 (Thompson Creek Metals 165 Mt landslide on the northeast wall. The 39% decrease in Co. Inc., 2014, p. 1). According to the company, primary molybdenum production in 2013 was partially attributed to the improvement in production was the result of the planned mine landslide. The company anticipated operations to be back to pit sequencing and transitioning into Phase 7 of production normal in 2016 (Rio Tinto plc, 2014, p. 28). in the second half of 2012 (Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc., In September 2013, General Moly Inc. (Lakewood, CO) 2013, p. 43). In October 2012, owing to continued decreases in announced it was fully permitted, construction-ready, and molybdenum prices, TCMC suspended waste stripping activity actively pursuing full financing options for the Mt. Hope associated with Phase 8. In December 2013, TCMC announced molybdenum project in Eureka County, NV. The company that it would put the Thompson Creek Mine on care-and- announced that construction would take approximately 2 years maintenance status when mining of Phase 7 was completed, after being fully funded, and at full production the mine would which was expected to be in the fourth quarter of 2014 have the capacity to produce approximately 18,000 t/yr of (Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc., 2013, p. 11). molybdenum (General Moly Inc., 2013). Molybdenum was produced as a byproduct of copper Mercator Minerals Ltd. announced that it produced production at the Bagdad, Mineral Park, Morenci, and Sierrita 4,300 t of molybdenum in 2013, a 9% decrease from 4,700 t Mines in Arizona; the Continental Pit Mine in Montana; the of molybdenum produced in 2012. The Mineral Park Mine is Robinson Mine in Nevada; the Chino Mine in New Mexico; and located in northwestern Arizona, 120 kilometers (km) from Las the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah (table 2). The Mission and Vegas, NV (Mercator Minerals Ltd., 2014). Pinto Valley Mines in Arizona did not produce molybdenum in 2012 or 2013. In the case of byproduct molybdenum recovery Consumption at a copper mine, all mining costs associated with molybdenum In 2013, U.S. reported consumption of molybdenum concentrate production are allocated to the primary metal contained in concentrate for roasting increased compared (copper). In 2013, byproduct molybdenite recovery accounted with that of 2012. Domestic mine production of molybdenum for approximately 47% of the U.S. molybdenum supply. concentrate was roasted, exported for conversion, or purified The Bagdad operation of FCX included a 75,000-t/d to lubricant-grade molybdenum disulfide (MoS ). MoX was concentrator that produced copper and molybdenum 2 the leading form of molybdenum used by industry, particularly concentrates, as well as a pressure-leach plant that processed in making stainless steel. Superalloy industry consumption molybdenum concentrate. Bagdad produced approximately decreased by 8% in 2013 from that of 2012. Overall, total 3,630 t of molybdenum in 2013, a 20% decrease compared with molybdenum use in steel in 2013 decreased 11% from that of 4,540 t produced in 2012 (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold 2012 (table 3). Inc., 2014b, p. 9). Metallurgical applications dominated molybdenum use The Morenci operation of FCX included a 50,000-t/d in 2013, accounting for about 87% of 2013 grand total concentrator that produced copper and molybdenum reported consumption. In 2013, FeMo accounted for 39% of concentrates. Morenci produced approximately 910 t of the molybdenum-bearing materials used to make steel (not molybdenum in 2013, a 33% decrease