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D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8
of silicon – producing some two-thirds
of global demand. Silicon is somewhat
unusual amongst metals in that its con-
sumption growth has accelerated, rather
than slowed, since the global financial
crisis. The strong growth in consump-
tion is reflective of the fact that all three
largest end-use applications for silicon
metal (aluminum alloys, silicones and
polysilicon in solar applications) have
experienced strong demand growth in
recent years.
Aluminum remains the largest end-use
for silicon metal, accounting for roughly
half of total consumption. Roskill expects
silicon metal demand from the aluminum
sector to grow strongly, underpinned by
anticipated growth in aluminum demand
from the automotive sector.
CESIUM
According to Dr. David Trueman, a
renowned expert on the geology and pro-
duction of cesium, since the 1990s the
largest application for cesium (some 80%
of global production) has been in the form
of cesium formate used as a drilling fluid
particularly in the extractive oil industry.
There are only two significant deposits
containing cesium minerals in the world.
The Bikita Mine in Zimbabwe has been
a producer of lithium and cesium ores for
over 50 years but currently ore from Bikita
is being produced from above ground
stockpiles and waste dumps and shipped
from to China for processing.
The world's largest deposit of cesium
is located at the Tanco at Bernic Lake,
Manitoba. Owned by the Cabot Corp.,
Tanco until recently supplied some 80%
of the world's demand for cesium formate
but underground rock falls in recent years
have sterilized the ore body leading to the
curtailment of mining and, like Bikita,
production has been sustained from above
ground storage and waste piles.
As these final stocks are depleted and
as there are no other significant depos-
its of cesium in the world apart from the
low-grade Taron deposit in Argentina,
Trueman believes there is a crisis looming
in the cesium market.
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