Chromite Reserves and Resources in China
February 6, 2009
Source: China Mining Association
By the end of 1997, 56 chromite ore districts had been identified with retained reserves of 9.002 million tons, of which 3.611 million tons belong to categories A+B+C. The reserves obtained in the detailed reconnaissance and exploration stages amount to over 97% of the total chromite reserves of the country.
According to Prof. Li Tong from the Beijing University of Science and Technology, the total resources of chromite is estimated at 44 million tons.
Statistics made by the USGS show that the world’s total chromite reserves were 3.7 billion tons in 1998 with the reserve base of 7.5 billion tons. South Africa is the leading country with chromite reserves of 3 billion tons and the reserve base of 5.5 billion tons. Countries of secondary importance are Zimbabwe (reserves: 140 million tons; reserve base: 930 million tons), Kazakhstan (reserves: 320 million tons; reserve base: 320 million tons), and Russia (reserves: 4 million; reserve base: 460 million). Other major countries include Finland, India, Brazil, Turkey and Albania. Comparison between the reserves of categories A+B+C of China and the reserve bases of these countries shows that China is far behind them.
The 56 explored chromite ore districts are distributed in 13 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including Tibet, which has retained reserves of 2.481 million tons, amounting to 27.6% of the national total; Inner Mongolia with retained reserves of 1.744 million tons (19.4%); Xinjiang with retained reserves of 1.703 million tons (18.9%); and Gansu with retained reserves of 1.443 million tons (16.0%). Moreover, Beijing, Qinghai, Hebei, Jilin, Hubei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan have retained reserves of 1.631 million tons in total, accounting for 18.1% of China’s total (Table 3.4.1)
In terms of the six large administrative regions of China, the chromite deposits are largely distributed in Northwest China (3.699 million tons, 41.1%), North China (2.749 million tons, 30.5%), and Southwest China (2.493 million tons, 27.7%). Merely 0.7% of the total retained reserves of chromite are explored in Northeast China and South-Central China and even no chromite deposit has ever been discovered in East China so far
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Physical Characteristics of CHROMITE
February 6, 2009
Color is brownish black to a deep dark black.
Luster is metallic to greasy.
Transparency: Crystals are opaque.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits include octahedrons often with dodecahedral faces modifing the edges of the octahedron to the point of rounding the crystal. Well formed crystals are rare and chromite is usually found massive or granular.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5.5
Specific Gravity is 4.5 – 4.8 (average for metallic minerals)
Streak is brown.
Other characteristics: Weakly magnetic and an octahedral parting is sometimes seen.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, streak, associations with ultra-basic minerals and parting
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What is Chromite?
February 6, 2009
Chromite is an iron chromium oxide mineral and the only ore of chromium metal. It is a mineral found in ultrabaisc rocks such as peridotite. It is also found in serpentines and other metamorphic rocks derived from the alteration of ultrabasic rocks. It is a high temperature mineral often found in the lower parts of magma bodies from the fractional crystallization process.
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Uses of Chromium
February 6, 2009
In metallurgy, to impart corrosion resistance, create a shiny finish, or increase hardness:
-Â Â Â as an alloy constituent, such as in stainless steel
-Â Â Â in chrome plating
-Â Â chromic acid is used in some anodizing processes
As dyes and paints:
-Â Â Chromium(III) oxide is a metal polish known as green rouge.
-Â Â Chromium salts color glass an emerald green.
-Â Â Chromium is what makes a ruby red, and therefore is used in producing synthetic rubies.
-Â Â Â also makes a brilliant yellow for painting
- As a catalyst.
- Chromite is used to make molds for the firing of bricks.
- Chromium salts are used in the tanning of leather.
- Potassium dichromate is a chemical reagent, used in cleaning laboratory glassware and as a titrating agent. It is also used as a mordant (i.e., a fixing agent) for dyes in fabric.
- Chromium(IV) oxide (CrO2) is used to manufacture magnetic tape, where its higher coercivity than iron oxide tapes gives better performance.
- In well drilling muds as an anti-corrosive.
- In medicine, as a dietary supplement or slimming aid, usually as chromium(III) chloride, chromium(III) picolinate, chromium(III) polynicotinate or as an amino acid chelate, such as chromium(III) D-phenylalanine.[7]
- Chromium hexacarbonyl (Cr(CO)6) is used as a gasoline additive.
- Chromium boride (CrB) is used as a high-temperature electrical conductor.
- Chromium(III) sulfate (Cr2(SO4)3) is used as a green pigment in paints, in ceramic, varnishes and inks as well as in chrome plating.
- Chromium(VI) is used in the post Ballard preparation of Gravure (rotogravure) printing Forme Cylinders. By electroplating the metal onto the second coat of copper (after the Ballard skin), the longevity of the printing cylinder is increased.
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