Carpentaria Exploration Ltd continued work at its Broken Hill tin and tungsten project north of Broken Hill in NSW, which contain the historical Euriowie, Waukeroo and Kantappa Tin Fields, and the Yanco Glen scheelite (tungsten) deposit 40 kilometres north of Broken Hill. In 2012, Carpentaria undertook a drilling program at Yanco Glen to confirm the previous resource and test possible extensions. In October 2012 the company announced updated Inferred Resources of 3.4 Mt at 0.11% WO3, using a 0.05% WO3 cut-off, for a contained 3.95 kt of WO3, doubling the previous amount of tungsten. At the Yanco Glen deposit tungsten is present as scheelite and minor wolframite in stratabound mineralisation, occurring within high-grade gneiss (metavolcanic precursor?) and metasediments of the Paleoproterozoic Broken Hill Group. Carpentaria have been undertaking metallurgical test-work as well as a mining scoping study.



 

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In April 2008, Peel Exploration Ltd (Peel) released an Inferred resource estimate of 1.29 Mt at 0.61% WO₃ and 0.05% Mo, at a cut-off of 0.2% WO₃ equivalent, for the Attunga deposit 20 kilometres north of Tamworth in NSW. Peel followed this up in 2010-11 with a study to investigate development options which indicated conditions were favourable for a low capital expenditure operation. Mineralisation at Attunga occurs within skarns developed at the contact of a lime-rich sequence with the Permian-Triassic Inlet Monzonite. In late 2012 Peel indicated it had begun a review of the Attunga deposit and was seeking potential joint venture or off-take partners. In August 2013 Peel completed one diamond drill hole for metallurgical test-work.



 

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In 2012-13, Thomson Resources continued exploratory drilling of magnetic targets within the southern part of the undercover Thomson Orogen in northwest NSW. Drilling on the eastern flank of the company's F1 anomaly (Falcon project) in early 2013 intersected anomalous tungsten (best intercept of 0.3% W over one metre), molybdenum and minor gold (Au) in what may be a zoned system. Previously, Thomson Resources reported on earlier drilling on other prospects in the Thomson Orogen which intersected evidence of mineralised hydrothermal systems. Two of these targets (Cuttaburra project) gave high grade polymetallic intercepts, with grades up to 3.7 grams per tonne (g/t) Au and to 113 g/t silver (Ag) as well as to 0.4% Bi, to 0.5% Cu, to 1.8% Pb, to 0.8% Sn, to 0.6% W and to 4.25% Zn. Mineralisation is reported to occur as sheeted and stockwork veins up to one metre wide within zones of altered basement rocks of the Thomson Orogen. On the basis of the polymetallic assemblages and presence of granite, Thomson Resources has suggested an intrusion related gold style of mineralisation for the mineral systems intersected so far. Tungsten, present as scheelite, appears to be a common feature of the majority of these mineral systems.  Thomson Resources announced in June 2013 that it had reached agreement with Cuttaburra project joint venture partner Raptor Minerals Ltd to acquire 100% of the project.

 

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In May 2013, Tungsten Mining NL (Tungsten Mining) announced a maiden JORC Code resource for its Kilba Project, 320 kilometres northeast of Carnarvon, in the Gascoyne region of WA. The company reported that the prospect has Indicated Resources of 1.3 Mt at 0.3% WO3 and Inferred Resources of 3.7 Mt at 0.26% WO3. Resources are from two zones (zone 8 and zone 11) with a total contained tungsten content of 10.8 kt. Tungsten mineralisation is present as scheelite associated with skarns and calc-silicate units within sediments that host the Paleoproterozoic Kilba Granite. In June 2013, Tungsten Mining announced that it had completed a positive preliminary scoping study based on mineral resources—not reserves, which led it to initiate a definitive feasibility study to upgrade the mineral resource estimate through infill drilling in zone 8 and zone 11. The study is due for completion by the second quarter of 2014.



 

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Newcrest Mining Limited (Newcrest) released updated reserve and revised resource figures in December 2012 for its O'Callaghans polymetallic tungsten-copper-zinc-lead skarn deposit about 10 kilometres south of Telfer in WA. The company reported Probable Reserves of 59 Mt grading 0.28% WO3, 0.29% Cu, 0.62% zinc (Zn) and 0.3% lead (Pb), with a contained 0.16 Mt of WO3, all within Indicated Resources of 69 Mt grading 0.34% WO3, 0.29% Cu, 0.55% Zn and 0.27% Pb, and Inferred Resources of 9 Mt grading 0.25% WO3, 0.24% Cu, 0.15% Zn and 0.07% Pb. Mineralisation occurs within a sub-horizontal polymetallic skarn at the contact between the Neoproterozoic O'Callaghans granite and limestone of the Proterozoic Puntapunta Formation. Newcrest has previously indicated it is undertaking a pre-feasibility study into the deposit. Based on its 2011-12 results, Newcrest was indicating potential development of the O'Callaghans deposit within the next five years, subject to board approval.



 

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Hazelwood has indicated it is targeting ferrotungsten production of 1500 tpa in 2014 and 2600tpa in 2015. Current feedstock for the plant is being obtained from a variety of international sources. Hazelwood has indicated it plans to develop the Big Hill deposit to provide feedstock for the Vietnam ferrotungsten project. The company also is evaluating its wholly owned Mulgine Hill and Trench deposits of its Mount Mulgine Project, 350 kilometres north-northeast of Perth as a potential additional feedstock source. Hazelwood purchased Gindalbie Metal's 30% interest in the deposits in the second half of 2013 and commenced an engineering pre-feasibility study in October 2013. Hazelwood released resource figures for Mulgine Hill in March 2011, which, based on a cut-off grade of 0.05% WO3, included Indicated Resources of 10.16 Mt averaging 0.16% WO3 and Inferred Resources of 5.35 Mt at 0.12% WO3 for about 18 000 tonnes of contained tungsten. Indicated Resources reduce to 2.23 Mt at 0.35% WO3, using a cut-off grade of 0.2% WO3. The company also indicated that 95% of the resource is within 100 metres of the surface. Recent drilling by Minjar Gold Pty Ltd, which has the gold rights for the Mount Mulgine project, resulted in significant tungsten intersections about 300 metres from previous drilling at the Trench deposit. Intersections included 70 metres at 0.167% WO3 and 72 metres at 0.134% WO3. Mineralisation at Mount Mulgine, which includes molybdenum, is thought to represent an Archean porphyry tungsten-molybdenum system (Mulgine Hill) and associated skarn (Trench), related to the Neoarchean Mount Mulgine Granite.

 

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Hazelwood Resources Limited (Hazelwood) released an initial ore reserve estimate for the Big Hill deposit of Proven Reserves of 18.78 Mt averaging 0.11% WO3 and Probable Reserves of 6.43 Mt averaging 0.11% WO3. The deposit's Measured Resources are 22.94 Mt averaging 0.11% WO3, with Indicated Resources of 11.95 Mt grading 0.1% WO3 and Inferred Resources of 12.54 Mt grading 0.08% WO3 for a total resource of 47.43 Mt averaging 0.1% WO3. All the estimates were at a cut-off grade of 0.05% WO3. The deposit is part of the Cookes Creek tungsten project located 70 kilometres from Nullagine in WA. Mineralisation occurs as scheelite veins thought to be related to the spatially-associated Mesoarchean Cookes Creek Monzogranite. Hazelwood is undertaking a definitive feasibility study for the Big Hill deposit, including large scale metallurgical test work on bulk ore samples, which has demonstrated the ability to produce high purity tungsten concentrate. Hazelwood completed an integrated pre-feasibility study in 2010, which incorporated its Big Hill tungsten deposit and its jointly owned ferrotungsten project in Vietnam. In June 2011, Asia Tungsten Products Company Ltd (ATC), which is 60%-owned by Hazelwood (increasing to 100%), completed construction of a ferrotungsten plant in the Vihn Bao district near the Port of Haiphong in northern Vietnam. The plant is expected to have a capacity of approximately 3000 tpa of contained tungsten in the form of 75% grade ferrotungsten. Initial production commenced in April 2013 with 140 tonnes of contained tungsten produced up to August 2013. 

 

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There are some points on how to reduce exposure when using tungsten electrode:

1. Choose tungsten electrodes without thorium, for example, selecting cerium tungsten electrodes, lanthanum tungsten electrodes, yttrium tungsten electrodes, or zirconium tungsten electrodes whenever possible.

2. Read, understand, and follow all information in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the selected tungsten electrode.

3. Use a high-efficiency dust collection system to capture particles created during the grinding of electrodes or disturbed during housekeeping.

4. Evaluate the ventilation system before acceptance and periodically thereafter to minimize personnel and environmental contamination. AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this Safety and Health Fact Sheet. AWS also makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein. 

5. Develop and implement standard operating procedures for the use of thorium tungsten electrodes, including proper procedures for storage, grinding, use, housekeeping and disposal.

6. Provide training in the operation of the welding and grinding equipment, personal hygiene and safety. 

 

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The following article will describe the other part content of thoriated tungsten electrode radioactivity.

Is there a concern to the user?
The risk of internal exposure during welding is negligible in most circumstances since the thoriated electrode is consumed at a very slow rate. During the grinding of the thoriated tungsten electrodes, radioactive dust is created, posing the potential hazard of internal radiation exposure by inhalation or ingestion unless care is taken to control the dust.

What to do with the collected dust particles?
1. Regularly remove the dust generated by grinding.
2. Properly dispose of the dust and spent electrodes in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Summary
Several of the information sources listed indicate that the risk of occupational exposure to radiation during storage, handling, and welding with thoriated tungsten electrodes is negligible where simple precautions are taken. Special care should be taken to control and collect dust from grinding these electrodes in order to prevent a potential ingestion and inhalation exposure to radioactive dust particles resulting from this operation.



 

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Thoriated tungsten electrode contains thorium, which is a radioactive material that can pose health and environmental risks at elevated exposure levels. Thorium is a low-level radioactive material that primarily emits alpha particles, some beta and gamma radiation as well. The electrode is normally sharpened by grinding as part of the standard procedure while preparing to perform GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding). Dust particles from this grinding process can cause internal radiation exposure if the dust is accidentally ingested or inhaled, so caution is necessary. Concern regarding radiation exposure to the external body from the electrode is minimal. Thoriated tungsten electrode has a wide application because they make good welds and are long lasting and quite easy to use. A thoriated tungsten electrode operates at a temperature well below its melting temperature compared to a pure tungsten electrode. This result in a much lower rate of consumption of the electrode during welding, which eliminates much of the “arc wander” associated with balled pure tungsten. Other reasons for their use include easier arc initiation, reduced weld metal contamination, higher current carrying capacity, the ability to sharpen the electrode, and a longer life. 



 

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