About
This is the space to introduce visitors to the business or brand. Briefly explain who's behind it, what it does and what makes it unique.
This is the space to introduce visitors to the business or brand. Briefly explain who's behind it, what it does and what makes it unique. Share its core values and what this site has to offer.
Rare Earth Elements
Rare Earths are a family of 15 different chemical elements. Each element has its own characteristics, its own uses, its own price. The proportions of the different elements vary from one deposit to the other, and within the same deposit. The most common elements such as Lanthanum and Cerium are also the most valueless.
At Monte Muambe, the most important rare earth elements are Neodymium and Praseodymium. These elements are used to produce permanent magnets which have a wide range of applications including electric motors, electric vehicles drive trains, and electricity generation systems. The global rare earths and permanent magnets supply chain is currently dominated by China.
Beside permanent magnets, rare earths have a variety of other applications. These include high technology applications such as lasers and cell phone screens, but also simple technologies such as glass polishing using cerium oxide. Permanent magnets represent approximately 50% of the global rare earths market by volume, and over 95% by value. The rare earths market is immature and subject to severe price fluctuations.
Fluorspar
Fluorspar (CaF2) is an industrial mineral with a very mature global market, and thousands of application. There are different grades of fluorspar. Metallurgical grade is used as a flux for the production of metals. Acid grade is used as an input for the production of hydrofluoric acid, which in turn is used as a source of fluorine for the chemical industry.
Gallium
Gallium (Ga) is a strange mineral which is solid at room temperature but melts if held in the palm of the hand, just like chocolate. The world’s production is only a few hundred tons per year. It is used in some of the highest technology electronics (semiconductors), but also in common applications such as the LEDs of our cellular phones “torches”.