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Tungsten
Tungsten, formely Wolfram, is a very hard, heavy gray-white transition
metal, found in several ores including wolframite ((Fe,Mn)WO4,
iron-manganese tungstate) and scheelite (CaWO4, calcium tungstate).
Remarkable for its robust physical properties, the pure form of this
metallic element is used mainly in electrical applications.
Mixed with other metals, tungsten can make "supperalloys”
used in tubine engines for jet aircraft and energy generation or in
space-age superalloys. Mixed with carbon, "tungsten carbide”
is used to make cutting tools and wear-resistant tool for metalworking,
drilling for oil and gas, mining and construction.
Tungsten is also used in light bulb filaments because it has a very
high melting point, a low vapor pressure and a resistance in high
temperatures situations.
Links:
-U.S.
Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries - Statistics 2001 - 2003
-ITIA: The International Tungsten Industry Association,
-Wolfram Bergbau- und Hütten-GmbH
Tungsten Production
Thousand tonnes
| |
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008 |
| Europe |
|
|
|
|
|
| Austria |
1.335
|
1.280
|
1.153
|
1.117
|
1.122 |
| Portugal |
746
|
816
|
780
|
846
|
900 |
| Russia (Europe) |
420
|
435
|
435
|
480
|
480 |
| total |
2.501
|
2.531
|
2.368
|
2.443
|
2.502 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Africa |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rwanda |
90
|
318
|
820
|
1.534
|
1.354 |
| Uganda |
27
|
45
|
95
|
75
|
70 |
| total |
117
|
363
|
915
|
1.609
|
1.424 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Asia |
|
|
|
|
|
| China |
59.900
|
51.200
|
45.000
|
41.000
|
43.500 |
| DPR Korea |
600
|
600
|
600
|
600
|
600 |
| Kazakhstan |
120
|
110
|
50
|
100
|
100 |
| Mongolia |
53
|
53
|
126
|
159
|
97 |
| Myanmar |
107
|
168
|
197
|
183
|
180 |
| Russia (Asia) |
2.380
|
2.465
|
2.465
|
2.720
|
2.720 |
| Thailand |
337
|
622
|
546
|
823
|
582 |
| Uzbekistan |
300
|
300
|
300
|
300
|
300 |
| total |
63.797
|
55.518
|
49.284
|
45.885
|
48.079
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| America |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bolivia |
508
|
669
|
1.094
|
1.395
|
1.150 |
| Brazil |
262
|
458
|
525
|
537
|
550 |
| Canada |
0
|
700
|
2.561
|
2.700
|
2.608 |
|
total |
770
|
1.827
|
4.180
|
4.632
|
4.308
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Oceania |
|
|
|
|
|
| Australia |
12 |
7 |
15 |
30 |
11 |
| total |
12 |
7 |
15 |
30 |
30 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| WORLD
TOTAL |
67.197 |
60.246 |
56.762 |
54.599 |
56.324 |
|
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