76 Tungsten - Indian Bureau of Mines

Tungsten is a vital metal of strategic importance. The
chief sources of tungsten are minerals scheelite
(CaWO ) and wolframite [(Fe,Mn)WO ] which are
4 4
deposited by hydrothermal solutions. Tungsten has a
melting point of 3,350 0
C, the highest of all metals and
it is resistant to all acids at ordinary temperatures. It
is elastic, ductile and has high tensile strength and can
be drawn into very thin wires. The domestic
requirements of tungsten and its products are met
through imports. A significant amount of tungsten is
recovered through recyling of scrap tungsten products.
RESOURCES
The total resources of tungsten ore in the
country, as per UNFC system, as on 1.4.2010 have
been estimated at 87.4 million tonnes containing
142,094 tonnes WO 3 content. All these resources are
placed under 'remaining resources' category.
Resources are mainly distributed in Karnataka
(42%), Rajasthan (27%), Andhra Pradesh (17%)
and Maharashtra (9%). Remaining 5% resources
are in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West
Bengal (Table - 1).
At Degana, Rajasthan, WO 3 value in vein deposits
varies from 0.25 to 0.54% while in gravel deposit, it is,
on an average 0.04%. In Sirohi deposit, Rajasthan,
WO 3 content ranges from 0.02 to 2.2%. In West Bengal,
Bankura deposit contains, on an average, 0.1% WO 3 .
In Kuhi-Khobana-Agargaon belt, GSI has identified
seven mineralised zones in Sakoli basin in Bhandara
and Nagpur districts, Maharashtra. The analysis
showed 0.01 to 0.19% WO in Kuhi block, 0.13 to 0.38%
3
WO 3 in Khobana block and 0.48% WO 3 in Pardi-
Dahegaon-Pipalgaon block. The deposit contains 0.17%
WO 3 on an average. Gold ore at Mysore mine of BGML
in Karnataka has been reckoned as a potential source
of scheelite. The tailing dumps at Kolar Gold Fields
contain about 0.035 to 0.18% WO 3 .
EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT
Investigation by GSI for tungsten mineralisation
in quartz veins in Mahakoshal group of rocks around
Wyndhamganj area, Sonbhadra district Uttar Pradesh
continued during FS-2009-10. During FS-2008-09,
TUNGSTEN
76 Tungsten
76-1
three scheelite bearing mineralisation zones were
identified by UV lamp in Wyndhamganj area.The
northern zone was traced for a strike length of 200m,
central zone was traced discontinuosly for 1km and
southern zone was traced for 1km . The analytical
result of samples of southern mineralised zone varies
from 490 ppm to 5038 ppm tungsten(W). In the
adjoining western part between Wyndhamganj and
Chakdurma scheelite bearing zone was delineated
which has shown tungsten value up to 1327 ppm.
Presently, the area has been covered by mapping
and sampling.
PRODUCTION & PRICES
There was no production of tungsten ore/
concentrate during 2009-10. The production of
tungsten was reported from Degana, Rajasthan
and Chendapathar, West Bengal in the past. The
domestic prices of tungsten ore and concentrate
are furnished in the General Review on 'Prices'.
MINING & PROCESSING
Vein deposits of wolframite occurring in Degana
and Chendapathar are found associated with quartz
veins, the width of which varies from a few
centimetres to three metres or sometimes even more.
In Degana, Rajasthan, it is also associated with gravel
beds overlain by 2.5 m thick sand.
Gravel mining was carried out in the past in
selected areas where wolframite was found to be
concentrated. The overburden sand was loosened
and loaded manually and transported by tractor unit
at dump sites. The payable gravel was then worked.
In case of vein deposits, ore body was cut
with chisel and hammer at convenient places
forming undercuts. At Degana, Rajasthan,
tungsten orebody occurs in vein, stockwork and
alluvial deposits. Inclined veins were developed
by putting adits in the stockwork.
Degana in Rajasthan and Chendapathar in
West Bengal were the only operative mines of
tungsten in India producing meagre quantities
of concentrate. However, owing to economic
non-viability, they have been closed down.

Table – 1 : Reserves/Resources of Tungsten as on 1.4.2010 (P)
(By Grades/States)
(In tonnes)
Remaining resources
Reserve Total
Grade/State Total Feasibility Pre-feasibility Measured Indicated Inferred Reconnaissance Total resources
(A) STD211 STD222 STD331 STD332 STD333 STD334 B (A+B)
All India : Total
Ore - 2230000 173063 19611152 23435954 25356049 16581246 87387464 87387464
Contained WO - 3568 450 9914 20180.92 103415.15 4566.28 142094.35 142094.35
3
By States
Andhra Pradesh
Ore - - - 3640000 4700800 5952500 509000 14802300 14802300
Contained WO - - - 5096 6574.64 8273.65 318.28 20262.57 20262.57
3
Haryana
Ore - 2230000 - - - - - 2230000 2230000
Contained WO - 3568 - - - - - 3568 3568
3
TUNGSTEN
Karnataka
Ore - - - 15361152 11805499 172921 9338246 36677818 36677818
Contained WO - - - 2915 1775 142 1403 6235 6235
3
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Maharashtra
Ore - - - 610000 5637250 1830000 - 8077250 8077250
Contained WO - - - 1903 10304 3828 - 16035 16035
3
Rajasthan
Ore - - - - 963666 17000628 5964000 23928294 23928294
Contained WO - - - 1421.44 90171.5 2115 93707.94 93707.94
3
Tamil Nadu
Ore - - - - - - 250000 250000 250000
Contained WO - - - - - - 50 50 50
3
Uttarakhand
Ore - - - - 138000 - 520000 658000 658000
Contained WO - - - - 25 - 680 705 705
3
West Bengal
Ore - - 173063 - 190739 400000 - 763802 763802
Contained WO - - 450 - 80.84 1000 - 1530.84 1530.84
3

USES
The main use of tungsten is in the form of ferrotungsten
in the making of special and alloy steels.
Ferro-tungsten typically contains between 25% and
75% tungsten. The other principal use of tungsten
is in the manufacture of tungsten carbide, one of
the hardest synthetic materials used in industry. It
is used widely in cutting and wear-resistant materials,
particularly those that have to work at high
temperatures. Tungsten wires form the filament
in incandescent light bulbs and cathodes for
electronic tubes. The metal is used in superalloys with
copper or silver and in chemical industry. It is also
used in armour plate and armour-piercing ordnance.
Tungsten compounds are used in dyes and pigments,
manufacture of paints and printing ink and also
in ceramic industry for producing yellow tint.
Other alloys bearing tungsten are used for ornaments,
heat sinks, radiation shielding, weights and counterweights,
wear resistant parts and coatings.
SUBSTITUTES
Titanium, tantalum and niobium carbides
can be used in some wear-resistant applications.
Molybdenum tool steels and tungsten tool
steels are interchangeable. In some cutting
tool applications, bulk ceramic is an alternative.
Tungsten remained the essentially unsubstitutable
material for filaments, electrodes, and contacts in lamp
& lighting applications. However, an electrodeless,
non-tungsten lamp is available for commercial and
industrial uses. In some applications, substitution
would result in increased cost or a loss in product
performance.
TECHNICAL POSSIBILITIES
Further development of new metal shaping
method; i.e., laser is possible. Development
of new cutting tool materials could reduce the
usage. Increased use in ceramics and in
catalysts is possible because of increasing use of
coating on cemented carbide cutting tools to
prolong tool life. Use of tungsten scrap could be
increased. Tungsten compounds could be used
in light-sensitive applications.
POLICY
As per the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14, the
imports and exports of tungsten ores and
concentrates can be made freely.
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CONSUMPTION
The entire domestic requirements of
tungsten ore/concentrates are met by imports.
Sandvik Asia Ltd, Pune; Widia (India) Ltd,
Bangalore; Indian Hard Metal Pvt. Ltd,
Kolkata; and Rapicut Carbides Ltd, Ankaleshwar,
Gujarat are the important consumers of
tungsten ores and concentrates for mining
machinery. Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd, Hyderabad
and Sunflag Iron & Steel Co. Ltd, Bhandara,
Maharashtra, were the important consumers
of ferro-tungsten for alloy steel. Annual
consumption of tungsten ore/concentrate and
ferro-tungsten during 2007-08 to 2009-10 is
estimated at 500 tonnes and 18 tonnes,
respectively.
WORLD REVIEW
The world reserves of tungsten in terms of
metal content are 2.8 million tonnes, distributed
broadly amongst China (64%), Russia (9%),
Canada (4%) and USA (5%) (Table -2).
The world production of tungsten in terms of
metal content in 2009 increased slightly to
62,300 tonnes from 57,600 tonnes in 2008. China
was the leading producer (80%), followed by
Canada (4%)and Russia (4%) (Table-3).
Table – 2 : World Reserves of Tungsten
(By Principal Countries)
(In '000 tonnes of Tungsten content)
Country Reserves
World: Total 2800
Austria 1 0
Bolivia 5 3
Canada 110
China 1800
Portugal 4
Russia 250
USA 140
Other countries 400
Source: Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2010.

TUNGSTEN
Table – 3 : World Mine Production of Tungsten
(By Principal Countries)
76-4
(In tonnes of metal content)
Country 2007 2008 2009
World: Total 57000 57600 62300
Austria 1117 1122 887
Bolivia 2501 1448 1290
Canada 2700 2795 2501
China 41000 43500 50000
Korea, Dem. People's Rep. of (e)
250 350 350
Portugal* 846 900 823
Russia* (e)
3200 3200 2400
Thailand* 823 582 600
Uzbekistan (e) 300 (e) 300 (e) 300 (e)
Other countries 4263 3403 3149
Source: World Mineral Production, 2005-2009.
* Wolframite & Scheelite.
Exports
FOREIGN TRADE
Exports of tungsten alloys and scrap
decreased to 79 tonnes in 2009-10 from 166 tonnes
in the previous year. Exports were mainly to USA
( 44%), Thailand (5%), UAE, Argentina and France
(4% each). There were no exports of tungsten ores
& concentrates in 2009-10 as against 15,915 tonnes
in the preceding year (Tables 4 and 5).
Imports
Imports of tungsten ores and concentrates
incresed to 87 tonnes in 2009-10 from 20 tonnes
in the previous year entirely from Belgium.
Imports of tungsten and alloys including scrap
increased to 356 tonnes in 2009-10 from 304 tonnes
in the previous year. Imports were mainly from China
(47%), Germany (19%), Republic of Korea (7%), Japan
(5%) and USA(4%) (Tables 6 to 8).
Brazil
Largo Resources Ltd. began the Currais Nouos
Project which would reprocess tailings to recover
about 830 tpy of tungsten along with 300 tpy
molybdenum. The company has agreement to take
over the tailings deposited over the years at Barra
Verde and Boca de Laje tungsten - Molybdenum
mines in Rio Grande do Norte state.
Canada
H.C. Starck GmbH had announced plans to
suspend expansion of its tungsten plant in
Sarnia, Ontario in early 2009 due to uneconomic
mining conditions. By year-end, the restart of the
proposed expansion to produce 4,500 tpy metal/
metal powder, carbide, etc. was under
consideration.
China
In order to conserve tungsten resources and
stabilise prices, the Government is regulating the
production and exports of tungsten concentrates.
Although world's leading tungsten producer,
China imported 4,700 tonnes tungsten in
concentrate. Chinese companies were involved
in tungsten mining projects in Australia and
Rwanda.

Germany
H.C. Starck enhanced tungstate compounds
capacity at Goslar plant, as also the recycling
capacity for tungsten materials such as spent
catalysts, production wastes and other tungsten
containing materials from chemical industry.
Peru
Malaga Inc. planned to increase mill capacity to
500 tpd of ore by mid- 2010 and to 600 tpd by 2010- end.
Country
TUNGSTEN
Table – 4 : Exports of Tungsten Ores & Conc.
(By Countries)
2008-09 2009-10
Qty Value Qty Value
(t) (Rs. ’000) (t) (Rs. ’000)
All Countries 15915 56550 – –
Country
Saudi Arabia 5 2 39546 – –
USA 15840 16980 – –
Nepal 2 3 2 4 – –
Table – 5 : Exports of Tungsten and Alloys Incl. Scrap
(By Countries)
2008-09 2009-10
Qty Value Qty Value
(kg) (Rs. ’000) (kg) (Rs. ’000)
All Countries 166283 290497 79513 412084
Korea, Rep. of 937 4563 1511 143617
USA 58994 49483 35192 41179
UAE 51543 34367 3438 7817
France 8667 13640 3202 19788
Iran 1677 17318 1963 16685
Bangladesh 1706 24398 1517 24884
Argentina 1800 13460 3278 27022
Thailand 4497 15318 4049 15548
Vietnam 385 6914 1408 20805
Japan 1766 12538 902 11817
Other countries 34311 98498 23053 82922
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Portugal
Sojitz Beralt Tin & Wolfram (Portugal) S.A.
proposed to expand Panasqueira mine production
to 1,500 tpy tungsten by 31 March 2010.
Rwanda
Xiamen Tungsten Co. Ltd of China was
developing its mine in Rwanda to ensure supply
of raw materials for its tungsten products plants
in China.

Country
Country
TUNGSTEN
Table – 7 : Imports of Tungsten & Alloys Incl. Scrap
(By Countries)
2008-09 2009-10
Qty Value Qty Value
(kg) (Rs. ’000) (kg) (Rs. ’000)
All Countries 303968 711663 356156 702068
China 130646 311103 168790 303852
Germany 74538 188840 67346 162438
Japan 14507 36569 18248 47780
Korea, Rep. of 35245 68571 24288 52834
Australia 8 8 255 1804 13414
USA 20381 36379 15469 39366
Singapore 9577 24916 5522 12173
Austria 1821 6173 2078 8462
Belgium 5714 9330 2742 4053
France 4461 9977 1582 4225
Other countries 7010 19750 48287 53471
Item
Table – 8 : Imports of Tungsten
(By Items)
2008-09 2009-10
Qty Value Qty Value
(kg) (Rs. ’000) (kg) (Rs. ’000)
All Items 303988 711863 356156 702068
Tungsten & alloys, unwrought 155818 333342 144892 289707
Tungsten filament 5920 29796 26816 71372
Tungsten wire 106368 273391 134454 297527
Tungsten, unwrought 27284 71408 49649 43359
Tungsten scrap 8598 3926 345 103
FUTURE OUTLOOK
World tungsten supply will continue to
be dominated by Chinese production and
Table – 6 : Imports of Tungsten Ores & Conc.
(By Countries)
2008-09 2009-10
Qty Value Qty Value
(t) (Rs. ’000) (t) (Rs. ’000)
All Countries 20 370 87 1538
Belgium 2 0 370 8 7 1538
76-6
exports. In India, the entire demand can only be
met by imports as there is no indigenous
production of tungsten concentrates.