Strategic Minerals Research Articles

To the Question of Strategic Management Subsoil Use

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of mining industry management in Russia. The author offers new methods and innovative techniques of managing the industry and of reproduction of mineral resources.There are no regulatory documents allowing to evaluate the efficiency of mining industry management, no concept of developing relations in the sphere of subsoil use, including strategic mineral resources; and no regulations, providing the procedure for the application of legislation in the sphere of subsoil use.A modern management paradigm is based on creating conditions for the integration of information flows, inventories, data bases and technologies necessary for the situation analysis and making management decisions.Strategic management allows to identify the potential of the mineral complex. However, the efficiency of the used method can be achieved if the response to environmental changes and trends is timely.The author of the article makes an attempt to rank problems in the mining industry, offers the ways of solving them and analyzes legislation in the sphere of subsoil use.The results of research, presented in the paper, serve as a basis for further consideration of the problems and for working out a model aimed at increasing the management system adaptability to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Problems of Economic Security in the Arctic Region

The current problems and features of ensuring the economic security of the Arctic territories as part of national security are analyzed in the article. At the same time, economic security is of paramount importance, as it is the basis for the financing of other security measures.
 Specifics of the Arctic zone include its enormous resource and transport communication potential. The Arctic, most of which belongs to Russia, is rich in such types of strategic minerals as nickel, platinum, natural gas, diamonds, oil, etc.
 The economic risks of the Arctic zone are associated with its insufficient innovative potential and low competitiveness, high resource intensity and low efficiency of extractive activities, as well as underdeveloped infrastructure.
 The strategic areas of ensuring the economic security in the Arctic zone include improvement in the methods of state management of the Arctic region through the formation and implementation of state target programs and the transition of the Arctic economy to a new technological level.
 The modern aspects of the industry and technology development in the Arctic in the modern conditions of climate change are highlighted in the article. Special attention is paid to the formation and implementation of the interdepartmental integrated target program "Arctic technologies", as the article is based on the scientific results of its formation and implementation.

Competition in the international niobium market: A residual demand approach

Niobium is a highly strategic mineral, of which Brazil holds almost all the world's reserves, followed by Canada. This study investigates the prevailing market power for niobium at the country level by using the residual demand approach suggested by Goldberg and Knetter (1999). The empirical evidence on the US and European Union (EU) destination markets, indicates a significant and similar market power for Brazil and yet a non-negligible intra-block trade that might play some role in the EU destination market. Moreover, some complementarity patterns are detected in connection to ferrovanadium alloys.

Problems of Legal Regulation of Subsoil Use in Modern Russia

The article deals with public relations that affect controversial issues of subsoil use. The relevance of the topic is not in doubt, since article 9, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation [1] defines that land and other natural resources are used and protected in the Russian Federation as the basis of life and activities of peoples living in the relevant territory. Among natural resources, a special place is occupied by subsoil resources, as they have a large amount of very valuable properties. In the modern Russian economy, the problem of effective subsoil use, which is associated with the need for advanced reconstruction of the mineral resource base and replenishment of strategic mineral reserves, should be one of the most important priorities of Russian state policy.

Chinese assessments of “critical” and “strategic” raw materials: Concepts, categories, policies, and implications

Most research assumes that China works strategically with raw materials, and assessments of raw material criticality are shaped in part by perceptions of China’s resource policies and strategies. Few, however, have studied the domestic debates and expert advice on raw material criticality that inform China’s resource strategies. Based on a study of Chinese-language policy documents and academic articles, as well as conversations with Chinese researchers, this article explores how various categories of “strategic” and “critical” raw materials are constructed, bargained, and changed in China. Influenced in part by international discussions of criticality, Chinese assessments of the “strategic-ness” of mineral raw materials have supported the development of a Chinese prioritization and categorization scheme for raw materials, including the establishment of China’s first official catalogue of 24 “strategic minerals” in 2016. Mineral categorization produced by Chinese experts and policymakers have an industrial and societal impact. Policies have been adopted to strengthen China’s domestic supply capacity of minerals defined as “strategic” and different sub-categories of “strategic minerals” are subject to different policies and degrees of regulation.

Sino-African Relations: Emerging Concerns and Dynamics

The objective of this article is to demonstrate that one of the most significant consequences of the growth of China-Africa relations is the positioning of the African continent as a possible theatre for US-China geo-political rivalry. The interpretative approach adopted in this essay involves a comprehensive review of extant literature, and draws on recent data to highlight China’s economic forays into Africa and the attendant implications. Undeniably, Africa’s strategic minerals are of great value to both competing global powers, that is, the United States and China. Interestingly, China’s presence in Africa has been bolstered by its state-capitalist model which has captivated and convinced most African leaders into believing that this alternative development paradigm might be the answer to Africa’s long quest for economic growth. To many African leaders whose regimes are mainly pseudo-democracies, the Chinese model which delivers economic growth without embracing democracy has become an attractive option vis-à-vis the Western model which is predicated on unpopular conditionalities of good governance and respect for human rights. While the emergence of China in Africa has been welcomed in the continent, it is equally true that some concerns and fears are emerging over the growing presence of China in Africa. Some of these concerns include the reversal of the democratization agenda in some African countries; the unequal trade relations between Africa and China; environmental questions on Chinese investments; and fears of a re-packaged form of new colonialism.More importantly, most African countries are apprehensive about the growing tensions between China and the US over Africa which might lead to a new ‘Scramble for Africa’ and the re-emergence of proxy conflicts on the continent.

Complex exploitation of the Far East mineral resources: effects “new model” of the macroregional development

The responses of economic agents in the mineral resources sector to the implantation of instruments of the “new model” of development of the Far Eastern Federal District in 2014-2020 is investigated. At the same time, the emphasis is put on assessing the capabilities of these instruments to stimulate the integrated development of the region’s strategic mineral resources. It was reveal is that within the framework of the “new model” there are no targets and measures aimed at technological modernization and development of processing industries in the mineral resources sector of the region. At the same time, the implemented measures of state support are actually aim at hypertrophied development of the raw stock component of the mineral resources sector. The potential and key directions in connection with the formation of new sub-sectors for the final processing of mineral resources of the Far Eastern Federal District have been shown. Changes to the model of state incentives for the development of the mineral resources sector in the Far East are proposed.

Discussion on the Minerogentic Series of Gold Deposit in Qinghai

Gold is one of the most important strategic minerals in Qinghai province. Based on the metallogenic characteristics, types, ore control factors and spatial distribution of gold deposits, the metallogenic regularities of gold deposits were put forward. It’s divided the pre-Cambrian, Early Paleozoic, Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic the metallogenic series assemblages, and also their distribution features are discussed which focus on five metallogenic periods. According to the theory of metallogenic series of ore deposits, combining with characteristics of typical gold deposits, twenty metallogenic series are preliminarily divided in Qinghai province. It is pointed out some suggestions about prospecting and exploration of gold deposits in Qinghai.

Redistribution of germanium during dynamic recrystallization of sphalerite

Abstract Rare metals are essential to the development of the “green” technologies that are at the core of low-carbon societies. In nature, these metals are frequently present in trace amounts scattered in base metal ore deposits, but the physico-chemical processes that are responsible for their concentration into strategic minerals are still poorly understood. Based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), coupled with electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, this study shows that plastic deformation and subsequent syntectonic recrystallization of sphalerite (zinc sulfide, ZnS) led to the spatial redistribution of germanium (Ge): from a background level of a few hundreds of parts per million in undeformed primary sphalerite to tens of weight-percent in neocrystallized Ge minerals. During dynamic recrystallization, Ge is likely released from the crystal lattice of parent sphalerite and subsequently concentrated in Ge minerals, leaving behind a Ge-depleted, recrystallized sphalerite matrix. Identifying how rare metals concentrate through deformation and syntectonic recrystallization at the mineral scale is essential to understand the spatial redistribution and localization at the deposit scale. This study highlights the importance of coupling in situ chemical mapping analysis with macro- and microstructural characterization when targeting rare metals in deformed ore.

Surface chemistry features of spodumene with isomorphous substitution

Spodumene is an important strategic mineral resource for production of lithium. Froth flotation technology is a major method for recovery of spodumene. Surface chemistry features of minerals have significant effects on flotation performance. Natural spodumene crystals have lattice defects, including isomorphous substitution of Fe, Mn, and Cr. Such substitution will affect surface features, such as hydrophobicity of minerals and collector adsorption on mineral surfaces. In this regard, the influences of lattice substitution on spodumene surface properties were studied with respect to wetting characteristics and collector adsorption using micro-flotation experiments, contact angle measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Micro-flotation experiments, FTIR analysis, and contact angle results showed that higher Fe contents favored for the oleate adsorption on spodumene surface. Contact angle measurement and MD simulation results revealed that spodumene surfaces with or without substitution were naturally hydrophilic, but the interfacial water structures were expected to be different with various substitutions. Therefore, the interfacial water structure was further analyzed for a better understanding of the wetting of surface. DFT calculations showed that the surfaces with substitution were more in favor of oleate adsorption than the surface without substitution. The surface with Mn substituting for Si was more favorable for the oleate adsorption. It seems that the metal ion sites at surfaces contribute to different interfacial water structures, and lattice substitution plays a significant role in the adsorption state of NaOL.

Sustainable Governance of Strategic Minerals: Post-Neoliberalism and Lithium in Bolivia

iStock/eccolo74LITHIUM IS A KEY component of the impending new generation of batteries and a core element in any debate about renewable energy. Its governance and mining stories have a bearing on t...

Design and Testing of Bipolar Pulsed-Power Supply With High Efficiency and Power Density for Strategic Mineral Exploration

In this paper, a 25-kW bipolar pulsed-power supply for strategic mineral exploration has been described. A 500-V, 12.5-A unit module consisting of a highly efficient LCC resonant converter and a full-bridge-based bipolar pulse-switching unit is designed. The LCC resonant converter has a trapezoidal-shaped resonant current for reduced conduction loss. For achieving high power density, the leakage inductance of the transformer is used as resonant inductance without an external inductor. Moreover, the designed gate drive circuit based on the repetitive short pulse is proposed to operate the frequency range from dc to 8 kHz and reduce the size of the gate transformer. Four modules are connected in series and parallel in order to operate the power supply in either loop mode or grounded dipole mode. Depending on the load condition, the pulse power source capable of delivering the required high voltage and low current (2 kV, 12.5 A) or low voltage and high current (500 V, 50 A) is operated either in grounded dipole mode or loop mode, respectively. In order to satisfy the output voltage balancing of the four modules, the third wire is wound to compensate for the transformer of the LCC resonant converter. Finally, the design of the bipolar pulsed-power supply has been verified based on the experimental results of the field test.

Securing Platinum-Group Metals for Transport Low-Carbon Transition

Summary Fuel cell technology is the key to transport low-carbon transition. It depends on the catalysis from platinum-group metals, the rarest metals on Earth. However, due to the limited reserve, it is critical to evaluate whether global platinum resources can meet the increasing demand. This paper aims to account whether current platinum resources can support future fuel cell vehicle deployment for 140 countries for the period 2000–2100 by establishing a technology-rich, bottom-up model. It is found that, under a wide range of scenarios, the primary resource demand is significantly lower than the supply capacity at the global level. This result confirms that fuel cell vehicles have the potential to significantly contribute to global decarbonization strategies. However, challenges exist at regional and national levels. Most regions will rely heavily on resource import from the few countries with substantial resource endowments but with political instability, implying potential supply risks.

Modular Design of a Bipolar-Pulse-Power-Supply-Based LCC Resonant Converter for Strategic Mineral Exploration

This paper describes a bipolar pulsed power supply for strategic mineral exploration. Depending on the operating conditions, the bipolar pulsed power supply is capable of delivering the required high voltage and low current or low voltage and high current when operated, respectively, in either the grounded dipole mode or the loop mode. Based on a 500-V 12.5-A unit module, series and parallel connections of four modules are configured to satisfy both the grounded dipole mode (2000 V) and the loop mode (50 A), respectively. A unit module comprising an LCC resonant converter and a full-bridge-based bipolar pulse-switching unit is designed. In order to achieve high power density, the leakage inductance of the transformer is used as a resonant inductor in place of an external inductor. Accordingly, the resonant tank parameters are designed to give the resonant current a trapezoidal shape to reduce conduction loss and provide high efficiency. In addition, a simple gate-driving algorithm that uses the repetitive short pulse to cover the frequency range from dc to 8 kHz is proposed to allow the compact design of a minimized gate transformer. In this paper, the detailed design of the resonant circuit and the transformer of a unit module is described, and the operation is verified through simulation and experimental results. Finally, the developed LCC resonant converter achieves the maximum efficiency of 95%, the maximum power factor of 0.96, and a high power density of 806.5 W/L.

National Seminar on “Strategic Mineral Exploration for Sustainable Development: Emerging Trends and Challenges’ (SMEET-2019)

National Seminar on “Strategic Mineral Exploration for Sustainable Development: Emerging Trends and Challenges’ (SMEET-2019)

The Potential of Iron Ore Tailings as Secondary Deposits of Rare Earths

Rare earths have appeared in the market with new energy and Information Technology and Communications (ITC) applications. While their demand grows exponentially, their production is experiencing a bottleneck given that their deposits are concentrated in very few locations, mainly in China. This scarcity and dependence have turned them into strategic minerals, and the location of new sources has become vital. On the other hand, the inevitable trend towards sustainability favors the reuse of waste to avoid the degradation of new areas and the need for waste storage. One of the biggest generators of waste is iron mining. The tailings are stored in huge ponds with consequent environmental problems and risks. As tailings come from a concentration process, they incorporate different amounts of rare earths depending on their separation behavior. To evaluate the viability of these resources as potential repositories of rare earths, samples of different types of deposits and treatments were selected. The presence of different rare earths in them was determined through spectroscopy techniques to evaluate their use as a deposit. The results show an increase in the concentration of rare earths, especially high-density ones, which, although currently not economically feasible given the very wide geographical distribution of iron mining, represent a fundamental strategic reserve.

Balochistan Economy as Potential Crisis Frontier of Pakistan?

The studies aim to highlight the potential of Balochistan economy in becoming the crisis frontier of Pakistan. A crisis is the composition of a complex process that results in harming all the stakeholders. Pakistani economy majorly relies on agriculture along with the industry and services. The provincial contribution into the national economy (According to the Institute for Policy Reforms –IPR 2015) has given as Punjab contributes 54.1% to the Gross Domestic Production (GDP); Sindh 30%; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 13% while Balochistan contribute 2.9% to the national GDP. Balochistan’s current share in the national economy is very low but Balochistan’s geography and locality could prove to be the main economic resource for the province as well as the country and has all the potential in rising above the other provinces. Balochistan encompasses almost half of the land of Pakistan while the population is less than ten percent of the total population of the country. Balochistan’s strategic location with a diversity of climate and all the ecological zones along with the untapped natural and strategic mineral resources, fisheries and vast deep-sea coastal land, indicates that the province’s economic development could be raised by paying attention to its geographical and demographic peculiarities. Balochistan’s landscape makes it a supreme location for the development of roads, railways, and pipelines to link the Middle East, Central and South Asia. To further elevate the development of Balochistan, the construction of the deep-water port at Gwadar has exponential potential by bringing globalization to the region. Keywords: Balochistan, Economy, Natural Resources, Future, CPEC, Copper, Metal, Vast Lands, Deep Sea Port, Warm Waters.

Strategic minerals in India: present status and future challenges

Strategic minerals have a substantial role to play in the development and security of the nation and play a critical role in the development of the national economy. The paucity of strategic minerals in India has been a serious concern for the last several decades. Growing global demand, high value, declining production and constant pressure for finding new mineral deposits captivate not only India’s but also the world’s outlook towards strategically important minerals. At present, India is having resources worth 87.39 million tonnes of tungsten, 24.63 million tonnes of vanadium, 189 million tonnes of Nickel, and 25.50 thousand tonnes of REE’s, but these reserves are almost negligible as per National Mineral Inventory (NMI) (01.04.2015). Hence, India is highly dependent on imports for the supply of strategic minerals. It is a major area of concern for India, since regular supply from foreign countries may be interrupted for obvious reasons such as changing the geopolitical situation or the foreign mineral producers forming cartels to dictate the prices. Hence, in the present geopolitical scenario, India needs to focus on adopting superior technology for recycling, exploring substitutes, retain and modernize the stockpiling of strategic materials, and encourage research and development in this area. Also, the supply of these minerals should be secured through the strategic acquisition of overseas mines by forming diplomatic ties and trade agreements. In this paper, an attempt has been made to discuss the present status, consumption, import, and respective substitutes in the context of current Indian economy.

Reverse Flotation Separation of Fluorite from Calcite: A Novel Reagent Scheme

Fluorite (CaF2), as an important strategic mineral source, is usually separated from calcite by the common froth flotation method, but this separation is still not selective enough. The development of a selective collector and/or depressant is the key to achieving high selective separation. 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP or H4L) is widely used as an environmentally friendly water treatment reagent due to its low cost and excellent anti-scaling performance in an aqueous solution. In this study, a novel reagent scheme was developed using HEDP as a fluorite depressant and sodium oleate (NaOL) as a calcite collector for the first time. When 3 × 10−5 mol/L of HEDP and 6 × 10−5 mol/L of NaOL were used at pH 6, the optimal selective separation for single minerals and mixed binary minerals was obtained. Zeta potential measurements indicated that HEDP possessed a stronger adsorption on fluorite than calcite, while NaOL did the opposite. This novel reagent scheme is of low cost, uses a small dosage, and is friendly to the environment, which makes it a promising reagent scheme for fluorite flotation in industrial application.

Magnetic Properties of Iron Sand from the Tor River Estuary, Sarmi, Papua

Information about the strategic mineral balance, published in 2013, presumed a significant amount of iron sand deposited in Sarmi, Papua, Indonesia. However, the magnetic properties of these iron sands have never been studied. Our preliminary study on the distribution of magnetic susceptibility of iron sand from the Sarmi Coast area has revealed that the iron sand from the Tor River estuary had the highest mass-specific magnetic susceptibility values with an χLF average of 3.083 ×10−5 m3/kg. We extracted the raw sand from the Tor River estuary using a mechanical magnetic extraction method and analyzed the magnetic properties and mineral composition. The magnetic susceptibility values increased significantly with an χLF average of 27.496 ×10−5 m3/kg. The chemical composition acquired from both the X-ray fluorescence and energy dispersive spectroscopy confirmed that the magnetic properties of the extracted sample originated from the high percentage of iron oxide. The hysteresis curve showed high saturation magnetization about 24.7 (emu/g), remanent magnetization of about 6.1 (emu/g) and a low coercive field of about 20 (Oe). The X-ray diffraction patterns identified a magnesioferrite (MgFe2O4) mineral structure. This result showed the novelty of iron sand from Sarmi, Papua when compared with that from Java Island.