decreased to a total of 37,000 tons o
contained molybdenum compared wit}
50,000 tons in 1992.   World min
production of molybdenum concentrate
also decreased from a total of 108,00C
tons in 1992 to 95,000 tons in 1993.
Canada, Chile, China, Russia, and the
United States accounted for an estimated
87% of the molybdenum produced
worldwide. (See tables 1, 2, and 3.)
Consmnption and Uses
Consumption of molybdenum
concentrate decreased 1,500 tons in 1993.
Domestic mine production of
molybdenum concentrate was either
roasted, exported for conversion, or
purified to lubrication-grade molybdenum
disulfide. The consumption in 1993 of
technical-grade molybdic oxide increased
about 6 % from that of the previous year.
Oxide is the chief form of molybdenum
utilized by industry, particularly in steel,
cast iron, and superalloys. However,
some of the material is also converted to
other molybdenum products, such as
ferromolybdenum, high-purity oxide,
ammonium, and sodium molybdate, and
metal  powder.      Apparent  U.S.
consumption (defined as U.S. primary
plus secondary production plus imports
minus exports plus adjustments for
Government and industry stock changes)
was about 13,000 tons of molybdenum.
(See table 4.)
Stocs
Total industry stocks, which include
those of producers and consumers,
decreased about 2,500 tons of contained
molybdenum.        Inventories   of
molybdenum in concentrate at producer
locations decreased about 1,200 tons.
Producer stocks of molybdenum in
consumer products, such as oxide,
ferromolybdenum, molybdate, metal
powders, and other types, decreased
about 1,300 tons.   Compared with
apparent consumption, yearend producer
stocks of these materials represented
about a 16-month supply. Domestic
consumer inventories of about 2,500 tons,
the same amount as at yearend 1992,


If represented approximately a 2-month
i supply as measured by average monthly
a reported consumption. (See table 5.)
Prices
The average 1993 Metals Week Dealer
I (MWD) price of concentrate (per
I kilogram of contained molybdenum) was
$3.752. The average MWD price of
oxide was $5.130 and the average MWD
price of ferromolybdenum was $7.092.
l Foreign Trade
Exports of molybdenum in concentrate
and of oxide decreased about 15% when
compared with those of 1992.
Molybdenum concentrate exports were
about 67% of domestic mine production.
Approximately   97 %  of   reported
shipments of concentrate and oxides were
made to Belgium, Chile, France,
Germany, Japan, the Netherlands,
Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The
calculated molybdenum content of all
exports was about 31,000 tons in 1993.
Total value of exports decreased from
$165 million in 1992 to $108 million in
1993.
Approximately 7,200 tons of
molybdenum in various forms was
imported into the United States, about
4,200 tons more than that in 1992. Total
value of all forms of molybdenum    I
imported increased from $27 million in
1992 to $48 million in 1993. In terms of i
both value and quantity, the major form
imported was ore and concentrates. (See  i
tables 6, 7, 8, and 9.)
World Review
Capacity.-The rated capacity for
mines and mills as of December 31, 1
1993, was 125,000 tons per year of  v
contained metal.  Rated capacity is  t
defined as the maximum  quantity of x
product that can be produced in a period  r
of time on a normally sustainable long- h
term operating rate, based on the physical a
equipment of the plant, and given   n
acceptable routine operating procedures h1
involving labor, energy, materials, and  A


maintenance.  Capacity includes both
operating plants and plants temporarily
closed that, in the judgment of the author,
can be brought into production within a
short period of time with minimum
capital expenditure. Mine capacity for
molybdenum is based on published
reports,  production  statistics,  and
estimates.
Reserves. -The definitions of reserves
and reserve base are published in U.S.
Geological Survey Circular 83 1,
'Principles of a Resource/Reserve
Classification For Minerals," which is
reprinted in the U.S. Bureau of Mines
Mineral Commodity Summaries, 1991.
Estimated world reserves and reserve
base of molybdenum appear m table 10.
The United States, with a reserve base of
molybdenum estimated at 11.8 million
tons, has 45% of the world molybdenum
reserve base.  About 90%   of U.S.
reserves occur in large porphyry or
disseminated  deposits  mined,  or
anticipated to be mined, primarily for
molybdenum.   These deposits are in
Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New
Mexico, and Utah. Other molybdenum
sources contribute insignificantly to U.S.
reserves.
Canadian reserves of primary
molybdenum are in British Columbia,
including 30% of the total in the Endako
primary  deposit.   Other Canadian
reserves are associated with molybdenum
and copper-molybdenum porphyry
deposits in British Columbia and in
relatively minor sources in Quebec and
New Brunswick.
Molybdenum reserves in Central and
South America are mainly in large copper
porphyry deposits.  Of several such
deposits in Chile, the Chuquicamata and
El Teniente deposits are among the
world's largest and account for 85% of
total molybdenum reserves in Chile.
Mexico and Peru have substantial
reserves. The La Caridad deposit in
Mexico is a large producer. Numerous
ther copper porphyries that may contain
ecoverable quantities of molybdenum
ave been identified in Central and South
kmerica. Many of these deposits are
Lctively being explored and evaluated and


al


674


MOLYBDENUM-1993








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