Molybdenum

A high-melting alloying metal that strengthens and protects steel; about half the supply comes as a by-product of copper mining.

Steel & alloying · No. 16

• India critical 2023
• HHI 2,355 · moderately concentrated

About half the world's molybdenum is a bonus, recovered from copper mines as a by-product.

Chart: Illustration: Molybdenum

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Molybdenum occurs as molybdenite in big low-grade porphyry deposits. A few, like Colorado's two mines, are dug for molybdenum itself; more often it comes from copper mines in Chile, Peru, the US and Mexico.

Three things to know

1. Only China and the US run both dedicated molybdenum mines and copper mines that yield it as a by-product.
2. China's share of world molybdenum mining doubled from 20% in 2000 to 42% in 2013.
3. Just 0.2-3% molybdenum in steel adds high-temperature strength and resists pitting corrosion.

The journey

1. 1 Porphyry oreMolybdenum or copper-molybdenum deposits
2. 2 ConcentrateFloated to molybdenite, MoS2
3. 3 RoastingTechnical molybdic oxide, 57% Mo
4. 4 ProductsFerromolybdenum, chemicals and metal powder
5. 5 End usesAlloy steels, superalloys and catalysts

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