Quantifying the potential for recoverable resources of gallium,germanium and antimony as companion metals in Australia |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Earth, Atmosphere and the Environment, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Victoria, Australia;2. CSIRO Mineral Resources, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia;3. Mineralogy, South Australian Museum, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia;4. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China;5. School of Biological Sciences, The Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia;6. Geology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand;7. Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia;8. CSIRO Land and Water, PMB2, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia;1. Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of Ministry of Education, China;2. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China;3. China North Vehicle Research Institute, Beijing 100071, China;4. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China;5. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China;1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China;2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;3. School of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China;4. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China |
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| Abstract: | Although critical to newly evolving and increasingly essential technologies, antimony (Sb), gallium (Ga), and germanium (Ge) are generally recovered as byproducts or ‘companion metals’ of other metal ores. The stage at which companion metals are extracted depends on metallurgical processes by which the host ore mineral is extracted and processed; many companion metals are recovered late during this processing. Therefore, the current and future supply of companion metals relies not only on production of major commodities, but also on the efficient recovery of these metals during processing that recovers the primary commodity.National geological surveys, particularly the USGS, publish annual estimates of global reserves for a variety of primary metals, but generally not for companion metals. This study provides estimates for the geogenic stocks (in waste rock piles, tailings, smelting, and refining) of Ga, Ge, and Sb as companion metals. These elements are mined in Australia but may be recovered outside of Australia, but their life cycles have not yet been well understood.Based on the methodology adapted, this paper estimates a minimum of 970–1230 kt of Ga, 30–10,000 kt of Ge and 70–1000 kt of Sb in current Australian lead-zinc-silver, gold, copper, iron ore, coal, bauxite, and bauxite residue (red mud) resources. The large range of estimated stocks stems from the variable range of ore grades reported by companies and the considerable uncertainty that exists among the grade estimates presented. However, these estimates are reflective of best practice in mineral resource estimation of Ga, Ge, and Sb, and provide a basis for determining similar recoverable resource estimates of other companion metals, such as indium, rhenium, and selenium, all of which are of increasing importance in modern-day life. |
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| Keywords: | Gallium Germanium Antimony Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDRs) Companion metals (or byproducts) |
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