Review of State and Prospects for Development of Vanadium Production in the Kazakhstan Republic

Abstract

Information is provided about prospects for vanadium ore deposits in Kazakhstan, the history of exploration of the deposits of Greater Karatau (Southern Kazakhstan), and mineralogical study indicating the potential for the involvement of vanadium raw materials in production. A review of the state and prospects for the development of vanadium production in the Republic of Kazakhstan demonstrates the possibility of creating enterprises for ammonium metavanadate production, organization of ferroalloy production, and a vanadium battery enterprise. The Karatau vanadium bearing basin appears to be very promising; first, the vanadium content is greater by a factor of 8–10 than the titanium magnetite ores of Russia and South Africa (traditionally industrially processed ores). Second, the ore contains such useful components as carbonaceous matter (8–10%), silica (SiO2 up to 80%), and REM (0.02%). Third, a newly constructed plant (2018–2021) in the Kyzylorda region will require a significant amount of siliceous and carbonaceous raw materials for the production of ferrosilicon and vanadium for vanadium batteries. Fourth, an important factor is the proximity of the Balasauskandyk and Kurumsak fields to the regional center of Kyzylorda (160–180 km), where it is planned to build ferroalloy plants and a vanadium battery plant.