Niobium
There is currently no niobium (Nb) being produced in Australia. In past years niobium has been recovered in concentrate form as a tantalum mining by-product.
Although the existence of niobium was discovered in 1801, by Englishman Charles Hatchett (despite him misnaming it as the element columbiam Cb), it took until 1950 before it was officially adopted by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) as niobium. It was first named niobium by Henrich Rose, a German chemist, in 1846. Some commercial producers still market it as columbium to this day, 2013.
Niobium – A Soft White Ductile Metal
When isolated, niobium appears as a soft ductile metal that is white and shiny, although it takes on a bluish tinge when exposed to normal air at room temperature for any long length of time. The colour depends a lot on its thickness as it will sometimes give off a yellow or green tinge. When exposed to air at high temperatures it begins to oxide therefore when being handled while hot (+ 200 degrees Celsius) it must be done under controlled conditions to minimise the its rapid oxidisation.
Similar Characteristics to Tantalum
Niobium has very similar characteristics as tantalum. The element tantalum is named after Tantalus, the father of Niobe and Niobium is named after Niobe the daughter of Tantalus in Greek Mythology. Some compounds of niobium are very toxic.
Uses of Niobium
Niobium is one of the group of five refractory (highly heat resistant) metals; rhenium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten and niobium and as such has the following uses:
- As a super conductor
- In the making of jewellery
- Alloyed with iron and other metals to produce stainless steel. It can also be alloyed with zirconium and many other nonferrous metals
- High quality pipeline construction
- As a superalloy for specialised heat resistant equipment such as in jet engines
- In cryogenic temperatures (very low temperatures, below 150 degrees celsius)
Niobium Must be Separated From Other Minerals
Niobium is not available is nature in its own right. It has to be separated from other minerals such as tantalite and columbite. When it is found associated with other minerals that specific mineral will also be found to contain tantalum. To separate niobium from other minerals it has to be oxidised first. The oxide is then reduced with either hydrogen or carbon.
Ideal Superconductior
One of the most compelling uses of niobium is in the area of superconductivity. It is used as an alloy with titanium to create superconductive wires to be used in the making of superconductive magnets. Superconductivity can also be achieved by alloying niobium with aluminium or tin. When cooled to a temperature below 442.75 degrees Fahrenheit, niobium by itself becomes a superconductor. It is these superconductors that are used in the electron accelerator at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. In this case 338 niobium cavities lying in liquid helium allow acceleration to nearly reach the speed of light.
Australia has Niobium Deposits but no Mining Activity to Date
Australia has three known economically viable deposits of niobium. These are:
- Toongi, 20 kilometres south of Dubbo in New South Wales
- Brockman – Hastings, 18 kilometres south west of Halls Creek in Western Australia
- Mt Weld in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia
There is no niobium currently being mined in Australia.
Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
