Scandium (Sc) is a rare earth element with significant industrial applications, particularly in aerospace, electronics, and as an alloying agent in aluminum. When assessing scandium concentrations in soil for mining potential, the levels are typically measured in parts per million (ppm). Here’s a general overview:
Good Scandium Concentrations for Mining:
- Low-grade deposits: These typically contain around 20-50 ppm of scandium. While economically viable, these require larger operations to be profitable.
- Medium-grade deposits: These generally have scandium concentrations in the range of 50-100 ppm. These are more attractive for mining as they yield more scandium per ton of ore.
- High-grade deposits: These have concentrations of 100-200 ppm or higher, making them very desirable for mining operations.
Examples of Scandium Deposits:
Nyngan Scandium Project (Australia):
- Average grade: Approximately 235 ppm of scandium oxide.
- This is one of the highest-grade scandium deposits in the world.
Owendale Project (Australia):
- Average grade: Around 400 ppm scandium oxide.
- This deposit is another example of a high-grade scandium resource.
Munyikwa Deposit (Africa):
- Lower-grade deposit with scandium concentrations around 30-50 ppm.
- This would typically be considered on the lower end for economic mining.
Considerations:
- Economic Viability: The economic viability of a scandium deposit isn't determined solely by concentration. Factors such as the depth of the deposit, the cost of extraction, and proximity to processing facilities also play a crucial role.
- Associated Minerals: Sometimes scandium is a by-product of other mining operations, such as nickel-cobalt laterite deposits, which can improve the economics of mining even at lower scandium concentrations.
In general, mining operations aim to find and exploit deposits with scandium concentrations of 50 ppm or higher to ensure a profitable return on investment.
