The outlook for pyrochlore concentrates : a review

Abstract

World production of pyrochlore has recently outstripped that of columbite, previously the main source of niobium. Columbite is largely a by-product of tin mining, but the new pyrochlore mines depend almost entirely for their success on an increasing market for ferroniobium. In spite of recent production and price outs, it is envisaged that the longer term outlook for pyrochlore concentrates is good even if major breakthroughs in metal usage are discounted.