Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/517266
24 www.resourceworld.com j u n e / j u l y 2 0 1 5 P DAC conventions often witness a buzz relating to a non-mainstream metal or mineral. This year it was scandium, a transition metal, which, like yttrium, is often placed in the rare earth element cat- egory. But unlike metals or minerals that become popular one minute and fall out of fashion the next, the interest in scandium has grown as its potential becomes increas- ingly apparent. Scandium is light, strong and often combined with aluminium as an alloying agent. It also has a much higher melting point and possesses excellent electrical conductibility. These are all highly desir- able qualities, particularly for aircraft manufacturers, whereby aluminium-scan- dium alloy components are strong, durable and allow for weight savings. This was appreciated as long ago as the Soviet era when the USSR used scandium in compo- nents for its MiG-21 and MiG-29 military aircraft. With a vast defence budget and a command economy, the cost of obtain- ing scandium was very much a secondary concern. But the cost of scandium is its great- est weakness in a free-market economy – it currently commands a price of up to $5,000 per kg, depending on purity. The reason for this primarily relates to the dif- ficulty of finding concentrated scandium, with most material today overwhelmingly produced as a by-product during the processing of other metals or minerals, or through the reprocessing of old tailings. In both instances the scandium has become concentrated sufficiently because of the initial production process. According to the US Geological Survey, the scandium oxide market is between just 10 tonnes and 15 tonnes per year. Given all of this, why has scandium piqued such interest? Firstly, laterite clay sources in Asia and New South Wales, Australia, have been found to hold sig- nificant resources of scandium at levels concentrated enough to make mining and processing viable. Secondly, there is greater interest in making by-product scandium. Potential producers from both camps are hoping the cost of scandium will fall once their material becomes increasingly available and cheap enough to spur broader uptake. They hope to more than make up for any price declines on greater volumes sold once the market is stimulated. But this leads to a second important question: does the potential for using scan- dium on an industrial scale exist? Many commentators believe so. For obvious rea- sons, and given its precedence in the sector, aircraft manufacturers are keen to utilize the material. For example, the Airbus Group has developed proprietary technology called Scalmalloy, a second-generation alu- minium-magnesium-scandium alloy. Because scandium-infused components retain strength and reduce weight, they can deliver improved fuel efficiencies and, in turn, help boost airline margins. And while oil prices have fallen considerably over the past year, few in the aviation industry believe this is the 'new normal'. Elsewhere, scandium is integral for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), allowing for cooler operating temperatures and extending unit lifespans. As the world seeks greater energy efficiencies, SOFCs appear well positioned to have an important and wider role to play. Interest in scandium climbs on growing potential by Simon Rees Scandium is light, strong and often combined with aluminium as an alloying agent. It also has a much higher melting point and possesses excellent electrical conductibility. miNiNg