Manganese, Cobalt, Tungsten Found in South Pacific

Manganese, Cobalt, Tungsten Found in South Pacific - 2

Details: Category: Tungsten's News; Published on Tuesday, 26 February 2019 18:37; Hits: 427

The number of rare metals is quite large, and only tungsten will be expanded here. In fact, military fans are familiar with the existence of tungsten as a strategic metal, which is used in many military equipment.

Here are a few examples. The high-density tungsten alloy can be used in conventional weapons as the core material of large-caliber kinetic projectiles, the core material of shell piercing projectile of machine gun, the warhead material of bullets and aerial projectiles, and the killing fragments of some tactical missiles. In addition, tungsten alloy can also be used as the outer edge of gyro rotor body and counterweight components materials in tanks, aircraft, ships, torpedoes and other weapons.

The United States has used tungsten nickel copper alloy instead of copper/steel as the outer edge of the rotor material in the World War II. The outer rim of the rotor is the component of the navigation gyroscope. Navigation gyroscopes are the heart of navigation and control systems for satellites, submarines, warplanes, rockets, missiles and torpedoes, which shows the important strategic position of tungsten as a metal. Those who have some knowledge about Diaoyu Island should know that there are also "submarine hydrothermal deposits" containing many rare metals in China's exclusive economic zone of Diaoyu Island. The submarine hydrothermal deposits deposit gold, copper, zinc and rare metal resources such as tungsten and molybdenum ejected from the ground by the thermal energy of magma.

Picture of submarine fleet

The team collected the fine particles and studied their composition and structure. Using an electron microscope, it was found that the particles were not spherical but consisted of thread-like crystals. It contains small amounts of other rare metals such as cobalt and nickel. However, the concentration of rare metals in the seabed mud layer is not high. Some experts say it is not suitable for commercial exploitation. The team also found chunks of manganese that are more than a few centimeters in diameter on the drilled seafloor. It is said that if the mechanism of mineral resource formation is identified based on the results of this study, it is expected to promote efficient resource exploration and exploitation in the future.

Picture of warship

China is a country with large Marine resources. Diaoyu Island is part of China's vast ocean territory. China is working toward the goal of becoming a marine power, even though there are quite a few problems in the process. Even if we are in a marine environment of disordered competition, China will not give away the sacred sovereignty of ocean territory under the marine power strategy, improved ocean research and the consensus of “ocean China”.

Manganese, Cobalt, Tungsten Found in South Pacific - 1