Alloying metals of Russia. Mineral raw materials resources: state, utilization, perspective of development (Report 2)

Abstract

A group of metals, including tantalum, rare earth metals, beryllium, titanium, zirconium, rhenium, scandium and boron has a big importance for alloying steel, aluminum and other non-ferrous metals as well as for production of different alloys. In Russia, the explored resources of tantalum by many times exceed the plants’ demands. Zashikhinskoe and Vishnyakovskoe deposits in Irkutskregion, as well as Katuginskoe in Chitaregion are most promising. The State balance accounts the resources of rare earth metals (REM) oxides by 20 deposits. Russiatakes the second place in the world after Chinaby REM resources. The balance resources of beryllium are accounted in 35 deposits, exceeding the world proved resources in the summarized categories A + B + C1+ C2. Russia takes the third place in the world after China and Australia by zirconium resources. The state balance accounts 36 deposits of titanium and 21 deposit of zirconium. Rhenium is the least provided by deposits and most demanded metal. The state balance of RF accounts resources of rhenium in seven deposits: three of them being copper-molybdenum deposits, two – copperporphyritic deposits, one – tungsten-molybdenum deposit and one – purely rhenium deposit. Resources of scandium as an associated component are accounted in eight deposits of Russia, half of the being within the allocated fund of bowels. However, man-caused formations – red sludge – wastes of alumina production – are most real source of scandium. Big resources of scandium are associated with the wastes of iron ore production at Kachkanar mining and concentration plant, which ate not accounted by the State balance. Resources of three deposits of boron ores are accounted in Russia, two of the being within the allocated fund of bowels – the Dal’negorskoe (Primorsky region) which utilized, and Taezhnoe (Sakha Republic – Yakutiya), which is being prepared for utilization. A wide distribution of boron minerals ascertained in magnetite ores, developed in Korshunovskoe (Irkutsk region) and Kazskoe (Kemerovo region) deposits.