UK restarts Hemerdeng tungsten mine project

Recently, the Hemerden mine project in Devon, in the southwestern United Kingdom, has attracted a lot of attention. One of the reasons is that this is the first mine in the UK that has been reactivated in the country for 45 years. But more importantly, tungsten resources will be produced here. This is an element that is essential to many industrial production activities and, like rare earth resources, it is also subject to China.

Related data shows that tungsten has strong hardness, heavy weight, and high melting point. It is mainly used for manufacturing cutting tools, high-strength steels, and weapons and equipment such as armor-piercing and rocket-tip cones. During the First and Second World Wars, the tungsten used by the British squadron mainly came from the Hemerdeng mine. However, due to the British government's decision to gradually shut down most of the local mines, the mine was also followed. closed.

It is understood that the Hemerdeng tungsten mine project is based on a tungsten-rich ore known as tungsten-manganese ore. Many large mining companies have shown great interest in redeveloping this project, but in the end most failed, including the once-exclusive American mining company Amax.

At present, the owner of the project is Australian Wolff Mining Company. The company bought the Hemerden mine at the end of 2007, but soon the entire industry entered the market downturn in the following years. Due to unfavorable timing and the fact that most of the UK’s mines have been ordered to close down in the last 30 years, almost no one thinks that the British government will approve the reopening of new mines in the country. There is also a lack of understanding and underestimation of the significance of tungsten deposits in the country. There have been many challenges in attracting investment.

Fortunately, two years ago, the British Geological Survey Institute's assessment of the tungsten supply risk level highlighted the importance of tungsten. At the highest risk level of 10, the Institute rated tungsten at 9.5, with rare earths. The risk level is the same because both the production and consumption of these two resources are dominated by China, and China can determine the supply to Other countries. After the assessment, the British government also decided to pay special attention to the mine recently, further contributing to the further development of the project.

After the shareholders meeting, the financial obstacles to the project should also be cleared, and the company will accelerate the construction of the mine and a tungsten product processing plant in Plymouth. After production, Hemerden's products will be divided into tungsten concentrate and tin concentrate, and the former will be sold to companies that manufacture high-strength tools.

Insiders believe that from an economic point of view, the Hemerden mine will bring very substantial profits. The value of 1 ton of tungsten is around US$ 36,000. The tungsten mineral products sold by Wolf and other manufacturers are measured in metric tons. The current price is around US$ 360, which is about 3 US$ per metric ton of US$ 110. Times. But whether Wolff can make things that other big companies have failed to accomplish over the years depends on whether its projects can be successfully completed, and whether its first relevant concentrate can be put into production on schedule in the second half of next year.