References:
Earle, S. (2015, September 1). 3.1 The Rock Cycle. Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/3-1-the-rock-cycle/ National Geographic Society. (2019, October 29). The Rock Cycle. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/rock-cycle/ Molybdenum (Mo) is a white platinum-like metal with a melting point of 2,610 °C (4,730 °F). It is highly valued because of how it affects the properties of alloys; when alloyed with other metals, molybdenum promotes hardenability and toughness. It is commonly used as an agent in the manufacturing of steel and highly sophisticated nonferrous superalloys. Molybdenum is also used in drill bits used by the geothermal energy industry as well as in propellers used to harness wind energy. The conductivity of molybdenum is also utilized by the solar power industry to form electrical connectors. Additionally, it is used in “green cars,” making them comparatively light-weight and fuel-efficient. Most commonly, molybdenum is acquired as a by-product of copper and tungsten mining and processing from Open pit or underground mines in the USA, Peru, Russia, Chile, Canada, and China. After mining, the ore is crushed, and ground and the molybdenum and copper are separated from each other by flotation processes, using a wide variety of reagents. References:
MineralsEd. (n.d.). PDF. Molybdenum. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/elements/molybdenum/ Sutulov, A., & Wang, C. T. (2018, April 26). Molybdenum processing. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/technology/molybdenum-processing |
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