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The New Reserve in Russia Drives the Niobium Market, an Essential Mineral for Cutting-Edge Technologies and Widely Explored in Brazil
Recently, the mining company Polymetal announced the discovery of a huge niobium reserve in Siberia, northeastern Russia. It is located in Tomtor, in the Republic of Sakha. Considered the third largest in the world, the deposit also contains large quantities of rare earth elements, essential for products such as smartphones, computers, and fighter jets, according to the Correio Braziliense website.
The announcement generated significant global interest, especially among investors and technology companies. Niobium is a strategic mineral with various industrial applications. Now, Russia plans to begin studying the project. The expectation is that a mining plant will be built by 2025, with an estimated production of 170,000 tons of niobium per year, according to information from the Russia Today channel.
Niobium: A Crucial Metal for Modern Technology
Niobium is a rare and highly valued metal. It is of great importance across various sectors. In steel, for example, it makes the metal stronger and lighter. Just 400 grams of niobium per ton of steel increases its strength, making it ideal for various industrial applications.
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Giant trucks with no one in the cabin have already moved more than 8.6 billion tons of rock and ore around the world, equivalent to more than a thousand Great Pyramids, all without a single recorded injury.
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The largest precious metals mine under construction in the world is situated on a layer of ore 25 times thicker than common mines in South Africa, and has just connected a third shaft that will quintuple the extraction of platinum, palladium, and gold.
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The most abundant mineral on Earth makes up about 38% of the planet’s volume and dominates the mantle hundreds of kilometers deep, but it is so inaccessible that humanity only managed to touch it thanks to a meteorite that fell in Australia in 1879.
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China wants to transform coal waste into a source of critical metals and use industrial ash to extract germanium, lithium, gallium, and aluminum used in batteries, chips, and electric vehicles.
The main form of niobium commercialization is its alloy with iron, ferroniobium. This compound is used in automobiles, gas pipelines, airplane turbines, MRI machines, particle accelerators, optical lenses, as well as jewelry and piercings.
Brazil: Global Leader and the Sustainability Challenges
Brazil is the largest global supplier of niobium. The country has large deposits of the mineral, including one in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas. This reserve has 2.9 billion tons of niobium, but it cannot be explored yet, as it is in indigenous territory and conservation areas.
Additionally, Brazil has an active niobium mine in Araxá, Minas Gerais, operated by CBMM. The Araxá reserve has over 800 million tons of niobium, which can sustain production for over 100 years. Some studies indicate that, considering deposits, production could last up to 400 years.
The Global Competition: The Impact of the Siberian Deposit
With the discovery of the mineral in Tomtor, Russia may become a significant competitor in the niobium market. This could alter the global dynamics, currently dominated by Brazil. For Russia, the project offers a chance for economic advancement, as well as increasing its influence in the mineral strategies market.
Experts indicate that, although Brazil remains the leader in niobium supply, Russia has the potential to stand out if it can efficiently explore its reserves. However, this expansion also raises questions about environmental impact and the challenges of ensuring sustainable extraction.
Desde quando a Rússia se preocupa com impacto ambiental e sustentabilidade? Se houver viabilidade financeira os russos vão explorar seu nióbio, queira ou não os seus opositores e ponto final .
Esqueceram da mineradora CMOC que explora o niobio nos municípios de ouvidor/catalão em Goiás
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