Have you ever heard of the "rare earth" in the earth's crust, which is only 0.002% in the earth's crust, but it is a key material in countless high-end manufacturing industries, and it is niobium metal.
The discovery of niobium was a bit of a twist and turn. In 1801, while studying iron ore in the British Museum in London, Charles Hatchett speculated that it contained a new metal, columbia.
Later, in 1844, the German chemist Heinrich Ross proved that coltan contained two different elements, one of which he named niobium.
Niobium is a lustrous gray metal, and when a piece of niobium metal is relatively pure, it is also highly malleable, but it will harden if the impurity content increases.
Moreover, niobium has a high melting and boiling point, the melting point can reach 2468 °C, and the boiling point can reach 4742 °C.
According to data released by the United States Geological Survey in 2014, Brazil has the world's largest niobium ore reserves, about 4.1 million tons, followed by Canada, about 200,000 tons. In addition, it is also distributed in Australia, China, Russia, the United States and other countries.
In October 2023, the Baiyun Obo deposit in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia, has newly discovered the rare earth ore "Niobium Baotou Mine", and the mainland has also become a major country in the development of niobium resources in the world.
The research on the niobium Baotou mine was carried out by CNNC Geology Technology Co., Ltd., which after years of research and exploration, finally obtained the formal approval of the International Mineralogical Association's Committee on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification.
Niobium, a rare metal, is found in low amounts in the earth's crust and is usually found in ores in a sparsely distributed form. Niobium is often co-existent with elements such as tungsten, tin, and tantalum, and the extraction and separation of these elements is complex and requires highly specialized technology and equipment.
Niobium deposits are usually distributed in areas with complex geological conditions, such as mountainous areas, near mineral deposits, etc., which are difficult to mine. In addition, some niobium deposits may be located in remote areas or places with poor geological conditions, increasing the cost and risk of mining.
The exploitation of niobium resources remains a challenge in China. For example, Baotou Steel Co., Ltd. has said that the development of niobium resources is still in the industrial test stage. This could mean that technical difficulties have not been fully resolved, or that more efficient and economically viable mining methods are being explored.
The post-mining refining of niobium ore is still an important part of the subsequent conversion into industrial raw materials, and the most common refining methods are oxidative roasting and chemical leaching.
Oxidative roasting is a method of oxidizing niobium minerals in niobium ore to niobium oxide, and then converting niobium oxide to niobium metal by chemical methods. This method typically involves the niobium ore being roasted at high temperatures to oxidize the niobium minerals into niobium oxide, which is then purified into niobium metal through a reduction and refining process.
The leaching method is a method of dissolving niobium minerals from niobium ore and then chemically purifying niobium metal from the solution.
This method usually involves leaching niobium ore to dissolve the niobium minerals in the solution, and then purifying the niobium in the solution into niobium metal through reduction, crystallization and electrolysis processes.
The final processing form of niobium ore is niobium rods, niobium plates, and niobium blocks made after refining, and these products will eventually play an important role in various fields of subsequent industrial production.
Niobium is used as an alloying element in the steel industry to improve the strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of steel, and is used to make high-strength steels, stainless steels, and other widely used in the manufacture of superalloys, such as nickel-based, cobalt-based, and iron-based superalloys. These superalloys have excellent high-temperature strength, corrosion resistance and heat resistance, and are widely used in many fields.
Niobium alloys can be used to make structural materials for nuclear reactors and for the development and utilization of nuclear energy. In addition, niobium also has important applications in turbines, turbine generators and other equipment.
Niobium is used as a material in electronic products such as capacitors, electronic devices, etc., and can be used to make high-performance electronic components. Due to its extremely small capacitance, niobium plays an important role in superconducting materials, which are used in the manufacture of superconducting wires, magnetic resonance imaging equipment, etc.
In the medical field, niobium also plays an important role, used as a medical alloy and material in medical devices, and can be used to manufacture artificial joints, implants and other medical devices, with a series of advantages such as low rejection reaction, strong corrosion resistance, wear resistance and solidity.
Niobium is increasingly used in high-end manufacturing fields such as aerospace and petrochemical industries, and has even become an important pillar in electronics, medical devices, superconducting materials and other fields. Having abundant niobium resources can support the development of the country's high-end manufacturing industry and enhance the country's position in the global industrial chain.
The application of niobium in new energy, nuclear energy and other fields is also expanding, ensuring the supply of niobium resources, helping to improve the country's energy security level and promoting the development of clean energy.
Having abundant niobium resources is conducive to promoting scientific and technological innovation, promoting the development of related industries, and enhancing the country's comprehensive strength.
In general, niobium has excellent physical and chemical properties, so that it has important application value in many fields, and has played a vital role in the development of modern industry and high-precision technology.
At present, the mainland has become an important producer of niobium resources, and the mining of "niobium Baotou mine" will further break the dilemma of "stuck neck" of key resources caused by domestic dependence on imports.