State of the art on the recovery of refractory metals from primary resources

This deliverable presents a comprehensive review of the state of the art concerning the recovery of refractory metals from primary resources. It focuses on the mining practices and technologies employed for metals such as tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and rhenium, both in Europe and globally. The document is systematically organized into five chapters, each dedicated to a specific metal type, detailing the mining, mineral processing, and extractive metallurgy techniques relevant to the recovery processes, including hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. Of particular note, Chapter 2 jointly discusses the mining and mineral processing for niobium and tantalum, reflecting their co-occurrence in natural deposits. This structured approach enables a focused understanding of the existing technologies and practices that facilitate the efficient extraction of these critical metals from primary resources. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the broader aim of securing a sustainable supply of refractory metals necessary for various industrial applications in Europe. This document serves not only as a resource for stakeholders in the industry but also supports future research and development efforts in metal extraction methodologies.