TELF AG analyzes the characteristics and applications of two new minerals discovered in China
The potential of the discovery
In recent weeks, some Chinese geologists have announced the discovery of two new minerals inside the largest, rare earth mine in the world, located in the Bayan Obo area in Inner Mongolia. The two new resources have already been given a name: they will be called Oboniobite and Scandium-fluoro-eckermannite. Confirmation about these new minerals came directly from the International Mineralogical Association, which alredy approved the names.
The discovery was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of several institutes specialized in geology, geophysics, and rare earths. Since 1959, 18 minerals have been discovered inside the Bayan Obo site, a figure that, with the last two discoveries, has recently risen to 20. The site where the discovery took place also contains large natural reserves of iron and fluorite.
According to the discoverers of the new materials, the latter would contain very precious elements that could be successfully used in numerous industrial sectors, such as those related to aerospace, defense, technology, and energy. In general, these would be two important resources for the nation’s economic and social development. The two new minerals contain high quantities of niobium and scandium, both very rare metals with high strategic value (one of the two, scandium, is generally included in the group of 17 rare earth elements). Oboniobite has been described as a yellow-brown mineral with a peculiar plate structure and a size that can vary between 20 and 100 micrometers. The other mineral, scandium-fluoro-eckermannite, is characterized by a pale-yellow tending towards blue and a column-shaped structure with dimensions up to 350 micrometers. This material is perhaps the most relevant discovery since it is the first material containing scandium ever discovered in China.
Applications
Over the years, niobium and scandium have stood out for their characteristic properties and the vastness of the industrial applications associated with them: niobium is especially appreciated in sectors related to the production of special steels, semiconductors, and aerospace technology, while scandium is used in solid oxide fuel cells and the manufacture of aluminum-scandium alloys. These two elements possess unique properties that have transformed them into two precious allies for various industrial sectors, especially for the peculiar characteristic of combining lightness and resistance (particularly appreciated in the high-tech and advanced materials sector). Niobium can improve the hardness and corrosion resistance of various steel alloys, making it the perfect material for manufacturing gas pipelines and automotive structures. The superalloys needed to build gas turbines are also made from niobium and are particularly appreciated for their ability to maintain mechanical properties even at high temperatures. On the other hand, Scandium is less widespread than niobium and is mainly used for its lightening and reinforcing capabilities for specific alloys, improving resistance. One of its most interesting applications is in sports, where it is used to make high-quality bicycles and equipment. This resource can also improve the quality of light and is therefore widely used in lighting devices.
