VANADIUM PRICES SKYROCKETING

METS are Vanadium Experts having worked on vanadium projects for the last 25 years.

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Titaniferous magnetite deposits are a significant source of vanadium for use in high strength steel alloying, REDOX Flow Batteries (RFB) and other chemical applications.

The mineralogy of the deposits varies markedly and the ore characteristics strongly influencing the process route selected and the metallurgical outcomes. Characterisation of the ores reveals the presence of magnetite, ilmenite and other minerals such as spinel hematite and goethite with variable degrees of weathering along with weathered products of host rock. The standard processing route is to crush, grind and magnetically recover a concentrate for salt roasting to produce a soluble vanadate.

Ore beneficiation is practiced to generate an iron based mineral concentrate containing much of the vanadium with low silica levels of 2%. Typical processing problems encountered are fine liberation size, over grinding of the magnetite and variable response to magnetic separation resulting from the weathering profile.

Beneficiation options are restricted, and generally focused on producing a combined iron and titanium rich concentrate containing vanadium due to the fact that ilmenite and magnetite and their products of weathering are magnetic and have similar specific gravities making their separation difficult. The ilmenite usually contains low levels of vanadium making its separation highly desirable from the iron mineralisation containing higher levels of vanadium.

Salt roasting of vanadium ores followed by water leaching has been the standard processing route for many years. The cost of suitable sodium salts, availability of capital and increasing energy costs and energy availability are critical factors in determining the viability of aspiring vanadium producers. To date, only Windimurra has acquired full capital funding, secured energy and sodium salt supplies at suitable cost that enable the construction of the project. Low overall recoveries of vanadium to concentrate roasting at up to 12000 C are critical cost issues.

METS is dedicated towards technical innovation in vanadium processing. As an example METS holds a royalty on a joint patent development with TNG Limited (TNG) for a new hydrometallurgical treatment process. This process is being used on the TNG Mount Peake Project.

Vanadium projects METS has worked on include:

>      Reed Resources Limited Barrambie Project

>      Behre Dolbear Australia Mustavara Project

>      Vanadium Australia Pty Ltd- Plant Benefication Study

>      TNG Mount Peake Scoping Study

>      TNG Mount Peake Pre Feasibility Study

>      TNG Mount Peake Feasibility Study

>      TMT Gabanintha Project

>      Medcalf Project

>      Wundowie Project

Various other shales and titaniferous magnetite projects.

Our focus is on the junior and mid-tier mining and exploration companies. METS has the expertise and track record in assisting companies to make the transition from the ore body, through to production. It might be as small as a desk top review or as big as the detailed design of a complete plant. METS has the experience and flexibility to tailor a solution for your project.      

   Vanadium projects are currently undergoing resurgence. The price for vanadium pentoxide has recovered from the disastrous lows of 2003 which shut down projects such as Windimurra when the price dropped to US$0.90/lb. China’s entry to the World Trade Group and the growth in the steel industry, more particularly for high tensile steel, have seen prices at historic highs.

The trends for “new vanadium projects” are diverse. The ores are highly variable and weathering leads to a reduced overall vanadium recovery. The concentrate grades for the Australian projects are typically 1.0 to 1.4% V2O5 whereas South African resources are typically 2% V2O5.

Energy costs are going to be a significant factor for all projects. The flowsheets and approach are very different for the three projects under development in Western Australia. Balla Balla has taken the simplest route and will sell concentrates on the basis of payment being ‘Hamersley Fines”. Windimurra will be an integrated ferrovanadium producer. Barrambie anticipates going through to mixed product flake vanadium and ferrovanadium.

HPGR is an emerging trend for new iron ore projects and Windimurra have specified HPGR as the preferred option. The energy savings are reported to be approximately 15%.

The preference is for magnetic separation and LIMS or WHIMS with a move away from a sole dependency on Rare Earth Drums (RED) as previously used at the old Windimurra project.

The dry stacking of tailings to reduce water consumption is a novel approach to water conservation.

Reverse flotation has been used on magnetite concentrates in the iron ore industry for many years and this is a novel approach to a perennial problem with vanadium processing.

Even though pelletising is widespread in the iron ore industry it has not been taken up for the vanadium projects.

Sodium salt recovery combined with evaporation and waste heat utilisation to reduce sodium carbonate costs is an approach used in some vanadium plants to reducing what is a major cost for the Barrambie project, although those plants have experienced significant difficulties in meeting emissions limits as a result. Even though oxalate from the alumina industry was low cost and provided excellent recoveries during roasting the trend has been not to use it because sodium carbonate has a lower transport cost. Windimurra holds exclusive rights to the process that uses sodium oxalate to produce vanadium and no approaches have been made to Windimurra regarding permission to license the process.

Agitated tank leaching has been specified for Barrambie in addition to calcine grinding to enhance leach recovery.

Windimurra is an integrated Ferrovanadium producer. Mixed pentoxide and Ferrovanadium product is the preferred option for Barrambie. The value added premium for FeV being the driver for what is a simple process step.

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