Tungs­ten and Molyb­de­num from the Southern Gold Line

Tungsten and molybdenum: essential raw materials for industry

Tungsten is classified by the European Union as a critical raw material and is widely used across industry due to its exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and high melting point. It plays an important role in sectors such as engineering and metalworking, energy and electronics, as well as aerospace and defence. Thanks to its high density and radiation-shielding properties, tungsten is also a valuable material in medical and technical applications.

Molybdenum, in turn, is an important alloying element that enhances the strength, durability, and corrosion resistance of steel. It is used in applications including specialty steels, chemical processing, and demanding energy sector technologies. Both tungsten and molybdenum are essential raw materials for modern industry, where material performance, quality, and security of supply are of critical importance.

Production highly concentrated outside Europe

Current tungsten production is heavily concentrated in China, which accounts for approximately 80% of global output, while the European Union’s share is only around 2–3%. Molybdenum production is also largely concentrated outside the EU, particularly in China and major mining countries in the Americas. Consequently, the European Union is almost entirely dependent on imports of these critical industrial metals.

Start of tungsten and molybdenum production

Endomines aims to start gold, molybdenum and tungsten production around 2030. We estimate that the Southern Gold Line’s tungsten production potential corresponds to approximately 0.5–1.5% of total annual global tungsten production.

Recovery of strategic minerals contributes to the sustainability of the gold production chain

Recovering tungsten and molybdenum as part of the gold production process significantly improves resource efficiency and ensures that valuable raw materials are not lost. This approach reflects the principles of modern mining, where the goal is to maximise the use of natural resources and minimise waste.

The results reinforce our view of the area’s potential

Endomines reported the first results from its drilling program focused on tungsten and molybdenum along the Southern Gold Line. The results demonstrate that tungsten and molybdenum occur across extensive areas of the Southern Gold Line. These results reinforce our view of the area’s potential for the production of critical raw materials.

Successful ore sorting tests increased tungsten grade

In addition to drilling, we have investigated opportunities to increase the tungsten and molybdenum grades of the ore through sorting prior to feeding the material into the processing plant. The ore sorting tests successfully achieved significant increases in both tungsten and molybdenum grades in drill core samples. A higher-grade feed material may reduce the required capacity of the processing plant and thereby lower capital investment requirements. Our next objective is to conduct ore sorting tests using a larger sample volume and material with higher tungsten grades. Following the sorting tests, the goal is to upgrade the sorted product through gravity separation and flotation processes into a saleable WO₃ concentrate with a grade exceeding 32% WO₃.