A Review of Tungsten Resources and Potential Extraction from Mine Waste

Tungsten is recognized as a critical metal due to its unique properties, economic importance, and limited sources of supply. It has wide applications where hardness, high density, wear, high-temperature resistance are required, such in mining, construction, energy generation, electronics, aerospace, defense sectors. The two primary tungsten minerals, the only minerals wolframite scheelite. Secondary rare generated by hydrothermal or supergene alteration rather than atmospheric weathering. There no reported concerns for toxicity. However, tailings other residues may represent severe risks human health environment. scrap secondary source this but reprocessing also become important future. Enhanced gravity separation, wet high-intensity magnetic flotation have been be successful tailings, while bioleaching can assist with removing some toxic elements. In 2020, world’s mine production was estimated at 84 kt (106 WO3), known reserves 3400 kt. addition, old deposits great potential exploration. incomplete statistics indicate about 96 content those deposits, an average grade 0.1% WO3 (versus typical grades 0.3–1% deposits). This paper aims provide overview resources, waste, including environmental reprocessing.