China discovers new rare earth ore in Inner Mongolia

Chinese scientists have confirmed the discovery of a new type of niobium ore at the world's largest rare earth mine in Baotou city, Inner Mongolia.

Nioni is highly valued in the steel industry. Photo: ARM — Nioni is highly valued in the steel industry. Photo: *ARM*

China on October 5 officially confirmed that geologists discovered a new ore in the world's largest rare earth deposit, containing niobium, a shiny light gray metal valued in the steel industry for its strength and superconductivity, according to the South China Morning Post . The niobium mine, called niobobaotite, received an approval code from the International Mineralogical Association's classification committee, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

Niobobaotite, discovered at the Bayan Obo mine in Baotou City in Inner Mongolia, is a dark brown ore composed of niobium, barium, titanium, iron, and chlorine. Niobium is a rare earth used primarily in the steel industry. Steel made with less than 1% niobium is much stronger and lighter, according to Geoscience Australia. Niobium alloys are used in construction materials, oil and gas pipelines, propeller blades, and jet engines. Niobium is also a low-temperature superconductor, making it useful in making superconducting magnets for particle accelerators and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Geologists from a CNNC subsidiary discovered the metal ore on October 3, making it the 17th new metal discovered in Baotou and the 150th in the region. Brazil dominates global niobium production, accounting for nearly 89% of output, followed by Canada with about 8%. Brazil has more than 90% of the world’s known niobium reserves, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Antonio H. Castro Neto, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the National University of Singapore, said: "The discovery is very important for China because most of the niobium China uses in its steel industry is imported. Depending on the volume and quality of the niobium in the ore, the discovery could help China become self-sufficient."

Niobium is also being used to reduce our reliance on lithium batteries. Castro Neto, director of the National University of Singapore's Centre for Advanced 2D Materials, says the niobium graphene batteries they've produced "can last over 30 years." The centre says batteries containing niobium are 10 times more durable than conventional lithium-ion batteries and have improved conductivity. They're also safer because they don't contain flammable liquid electrolytes and can be fully charged in just 10 minutes, compared to hours for lithium batteries.

An Khang (According to SCMP )

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