SCANDIUM:

Discovered in 1879 by Fredrick Nelson during experiments with euxenite and gadolinite, scandium is a rare earth metal with a silvery-white appearance, an atomic number of 21, and an atomic weight of 45. Named after the Scandinavian Peninsula where it was first found, scandium possesses a high melting point despite being lighter than aluminum. This characteristic makes it advantageous in the production of lightweight aluminum alloys for various applications.

MINING AND EXTRACTION:

Scandium is typically not extracted directly from its metallic ores; instead, it is obtained as a by-product of mining operations for uranium, iron, nickel, zinc, and other metals worldwide. It commonly occurs naturally as scandia or scandium oxide. Scandium oxide mining takes place in various locations globally, including Zhoti Vody in Ukraine, Bayan Oba in China, the Kola Peninsula in Russia, NioCorp in the United States, Nickel Asia Corporation in the Philippines, the Iveland Evje region in Norway, Scandium International in Australia, as well as certain regions in Madagascar and Kazakhstan.

The mining technique employed for extracting scandium ore is open-pit mining, where the excavation involves creating steps with walls, benches, and ramps. These step-like formations facilitate the movement of machinery, miners, and ore-carrying trucks within the mine, allowing for efficient excavation of the ore.

Additionally, this method enables wide and deep excavation of the ores. Typically, an initial ore processing plant is established in close proximity to the mine to separate scandium-containing minerals from other ore particles. Within the processing facility, scandium is extracted from the raw ore through processes such as milling, crushing, and leaching using concentrated strong acids. The separated scandium is then obtained in the form of scandium oxide.

The process involves converting scandium oxide into scandium fluoride, which is then reduced using metallic calcium to obtain the pure metal, scandium. Ongoing research aims to explore various methods of extracting scandium from a wide range of earth and metallic ores, driven by the high demand for this metal.

China, Russia, and Norway have emerged as leading miners and distributors of scandium globally. In Russia, scandium is also extracted from stockpiles of defense aircraft dating back to the Cold War and World War II.

The obtained scandium oxide is converted into scandium fluoride and reduced with metallic calcium in order to produce the metallic scandium.

There are much more researches are in process for extraction of scandium from as much as earth and metallic ores possible due to the demand for this metal is very high.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND:

The production of scandium is insufficient compared to the market demand. The rapid advancements in lightweight and high-strength alloys for automotive and aerospace manufacturing have significantly increased the demand for scandium. The global production of only 15 to 20 metric tons from various sources may not meet this demand. Ongoing development of new mines in New South Wales, Australia, could potentially increase global scandium production. However, the demand for scandium is expected to continue indefinitely.

APPLICATIONS:

• Scandium's lightweight and durable nature makes it an ideal component in the production of aluminium-scandium alloys. These alloys possess characteristics such as lightweight, strong corrosion resistance, and heat resistance, which are essential qualities for metals used in aircraft manufacturing. Consequently, scandium is utilized in the production of various minor aircraft components. The introduction of aluminium-scandium alloys has led to a reduction in aircraft weight by 15 to 20 percent.

• Its lightweight and durable properties have also revolutionized the production of sports equipment, including bicycle frames, golf clubs, baseball bat handles, and fishing rods, through the creation of scandium-based alloys.

• Scandium's promising electrical properties and heat resistance make it suitable for use in solid oxide cells.

• Scandium iodide finds application in mercury lamps and high-intensity lights commonly used in stadiums and the film industry for filming purposes.

• The radioactive isotope of scandium serves as a tracing agent in oil refineries.

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