U.S.Geological Survey (USGS): Molybdenum

Statistics and Information: Molybdenum (Mo) is a refractory metallic element used principally as an alloying agent in steel, cast iron, and superalloys to enhance hardenability, strength, toughness, and wear and corrosion resistance. To achieve desired metallurgical properties, molybdenum, primarily in the form of molybdic oxide or ferromolybdenum, is frequently used in combination with or added to chromium, columbium (niobium), manganese, nickel, tungsten, or other alloy metals. The versatility of molybdenum in enhancing a variety of alloy properties has ensured it a significant role in contemporary industrial technology, which increasingly requires materials that are serviceable under high stress, expanded temperature ranges, and highly corrosive environments. Moreover, molybdenum finds significant usage as a refractory metal in numerous chemical applications, including catalysts, lubricants, and pigments. Few of molybdenum’s uses have acceptable substitutions.

Molybdenum
(Data in metric tons of molybdenum content unless otherwise noted)

U.S. Domestic Production and Use: In 2008, molybdenum, valued at about $4.5 billion (based on average oxide price), was produced by 12 mines. Molybdenum ore was produced as a primary product at four mines—one each in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico—whereas eight copper mines (four in Arizona, one each in Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) recovered molybdenum as a byproduct. Three roasting plants converted molybdenite concentrate to molybdic oxide, from which intermediate products, such as ferromolybdenum, metal powder, and various chemicals, were produced. Iron and steel and superalloy producers accounted for about 83% of the molybdenum consumed.

U.S. Recycling: Molybdenum in the form of molybdenum metal or superalloys was recovered, but the amount was small. Although molybdenum is not recovered from scrap steel, recycling of steel alloys is significant, and some molybdenum content is reutilized. The amount of molybdenum recycled as part of new and old steel and other scrap may be as much as 30% of the apparent supply of molybdenum.

U.S. Import Sources (2004-07): Ferromolybdenum: China, 71%; Chile 15%; Canada, 7%; United Kingdom, 4%; and other, 3%. Molybdenum ores and concentrates: Chile, 39%; Mexico, 25%; Canada, 24%; Peru, 10%; and other, 2%.

U.S. Tariff:

U.S. Depletion Allowance: 22% (Domestic); 14% (Foreign).

Events, Trends, and Issues: U.S. mine output of molybdenum in concentrate in 2008 increased about 8% from that of 2007. U.S. imports for consumption decreased an estimated 27% from those of 2007, while the U.S. exports decreased about 4% from those of 2007. U.S. domestic roasters operated at full production levels in 2007 and 2008. U.S. reported consumption increased almost 12% from that of 2007 while apparent consumption increased about 6%, owing to increased destocking offsetting reduced imports. Mine capacity utilization in 2008 was about 83%.

China’s high level of steel production and consumption continued to generate strong internal consumption of molybdenum. This consumption, coupled with reduced Chinese exports in 2007 and 2008 owing to export quotas and duties imposed in July 2007, continued to support historically high molybdenum prices. Most byproduct and primary molybdenum mines in the United States maintained high production levels in 2008. Production capacity at the Henderson Mine, Empire, CO, was expanded to about 18,100 tons per year of contained molybdenum in 2006, and mine production approached that level in 2007 and 2008. The Ashdown Mine, near Denio, NV, started molybdenum operations in 2007, and the byproduct molybdenum circuits at the Morenci Mine in Greenlee County, AZ, and the Mission Mine in Pima County, AZ, also restarted in 2007.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base:

World Resources: Identified resources amount to about 5.4 million tons of molybdenum in the United States and about 14 million tons in the rest of the world. Molybdenum occurs as the principal metal sulfide in large low-grade porphyry molybdenum deposits and as an associated metal sulfide in low-grade porphyry copper deposits. Resources of molybdenum are adequate to supply world needs for the foreseeable future.

Substitutes: There is little substitution for molybdenum in its major application as an alloying element in steels and cast irons. In fact, because of the availability and versatility of molybdenum, industry has sought to develop new materials that benefit from the alloying properties of the metal. Potential substitutes for molybdenum include chromium, vanadium, niobium (columbium), and boron in alloy steels; tungsten in tool steels; graphite, tungsten, and tantalum for refractory materials in high-temperature electric furnaces; and chrome-orange, cadmium-red, and organic-orange pigments for molybdenum orange.

(e) Estimated. (E) Net exporter.

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2009