Overview:
Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is a rare transition metal found almost exclusively in the chemical compounds scheelite and wolframite. Tungsten is a strong, brittle metal which remarkably exhibits the highest melting point of all the elements, with a density very similar to gold. Interestingly, tungsten is the heaviest element found in biomolecules, where it’s utilised by some bacteria and archaea (Wikipedia, “Tungsten Carbide”, Accessed 2/24/17). Eight of the ten largest deposits of tungsten are located in China or Russia, these deposits constitute half the world’s tungsten (Werner 2014, 1). China leads the world in tungsten production, export, and consumption with 71,000 tonnes of tungsten mined in 2015 (Shedd 2016, 180). Vietnam, Russia, and Canada followed China with 5, 2.5, and 1.7 thousand tonnes, respectively, produced in 2015 (Shedd 2016, 181).
As a heavy, dense metal, tungsten is used all over the world in the production of hard materials. Half of the world’s tungsten is produced in the form of tungsten carbide, a molecule containing equal parts tungsten and carbon. This compound is approximately twice as stiff and dense as steel, and when small amounts are alloyed with steel they form a superior material (Wikipedia, “Tungsten”, Accessed 2/24/17). Due to its hardness and temperature resistance, tungsten carbide is often used in the production of cutting tools such as drill bits used on steel and other materials where traditional tools would lose effectiveness. Tungsten has also been used in the production of armor piercing ammunition since World War II. Due to its high resistance to scratching, tungsten carbide has recently become a popular material in the production of bridal jewelry. Elemental tungsten is commonly used in light bulbs, cathode-ray tubes, rocket engine nozels, and other high temperature applications (Wikipedia, “Tungsten Carbide”, Accessed 2/24/17).
Despite its relatively widespread use, little is known about the environmental effects of tungsten production. It’s been found that the addition of tungsten powder to the soil in excess of 1% concentration by mass leads to death of bacteria, worms, and plants, largely due to a strong soil acidification effect. Though the lethal dose of tungsten varies greatly depending on chemical form and method of exposure, it is transported through the blood and can damage the liver, skeleton, and other organs. Tungsten has also been shown to be readily uptaken by plants which suggests the possibility of phytoremediation for contaminated soils (Strigul 2005, 248).
Site # 1 Thái Nguyên Province, Vietnam; Nui Phao Mine
Thái Nguyên Province is a rural, mountanous area in Northeastern Vietnam with a population just above 1 million. It’s a multiethnic area which depends largely on agriculture; the area is also known as a center for education with several universities, colleges, and many vocational schools. From the website, it is clear that the province values the education of its citizens, both in colleges and vocational training centers. The government of Thái Nguyên believes that investing in human resources will help attract investors to the area. Their plan seems to be working as they attribute a roughly 30% increase in population from 2014-15 to an influx of industrial workers such as the ones employed by Nui Phao Mine (“Characteristics of Society).
One source labels the area as “one of the poorest regions of northern Vietnam” (Richards 2003), and the province website cites a per capita GDP of 60,000,000 VND which is approximately $2,700 USD; Nonetheless, the public perspective is hopeful, citing a 15% economic growth in 2015 (“Economic Development”). According to 2014 statistics, roughly 70% of the population lives in rural areas in towns, villages, and communes; most of these people work in agriculture with the remainder working in industrial applications, or in the cities (“Characteristics of Society”). Tea is a major agricultural resource for the area, Thái Nguyên interestingly is said to produce the best tea in Vietnam (Wikipedia, “Thái Nguyên Province”, Accessed 2/26/17), additionally the area is known for the cultivation of fruit trees.
It’s clear that life in Thái Nguyên Province is dependent on the people’s relationship with the land. For this reason, it’s important that any mining operations have strict regulations on pollution. Nui Phao mine prepared plans to actually remediate natural damage caused by tungsten containing minerals. Additionally, Nui Phao has been working with the community to ensure that any relocations necessitated by the project lead to economic improvement for those affected, and that a portion of the returns on the mine be returned to community investment (“Resettlement”). When Nui Phao opened in 2014 it became the world’s largest producer of tungsten and one of the world’s largest producers of bismuth; bringing much needed economic developement to the area. As long as Nui Phao can stick to their commitments for environmental safety and public outreach, the mine can remain an overall benefit to the people of Thái Nguyên Province.
Comparison and Conclusion
When you situate a mineral in the context of nature, social relationships, and meaning, you learn that every choice we make as consumers and citizens of our planet have long-reaching consequences. Just think of all the complex products we interact every day, each material used in that product was sourced from a place like Nui Phao mine. It’s also possible that some of those materials came from places with lower environmental regulations, or from a place that supports mineral conflicts like some tungsten mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zientek 2014). Situating a mineral stresses the importance of closely investigating the supply chains which we unwittingly take advantage of every day. Technological innovations will likely only increase the need for specially resistant materials such as tungsten and it’s important that we continue to balance global demand, and sustainable environmental protections with responsible social practices.
In this respect, Nui Phao mine seems to be setting an example. Masan Group, the corporation behind Nui Phao mine, worked closely with the community of Thái Nguyên in order to take advantage of a natural resource located in the hills of rural Vietnam. Though tungsten and its related compounds can harm plants and animals exposed to them, it is possible to conduct a mining operation in relative safety. By sticking to strict environmental regulations, and making a commitment to give back to the community, Nui Phao strives to benefit the people of Thái Nguyên, and Vietnam while also succeeding as a business. When situating minerals, one gains an appreciation for all the work that happens “behind the scenes” of production.
In situating minerals, one also learns that it’s impossible to make “objective” or definitive decisions about what’s best for the planet as a whole. Mining operations, and similar industrial processes which may pose a threat to the environment can also be important to a large number of people which rely on such operations for economic development and security. Like we talked about in WWD, there will be winners and losers when it comes to climate change. Too often the people that work make our modern lifestyles possible are also the people who have the most to lose when global temperatures rise and natural phenomena like hurricanes and droughts become more of a danger. It’s important to remember that responsible production standards are as important as responsible waste management strategies.
Bibliography
“Characteristics of Society” Portal of Thái Nguyên Province, Vietnam. Accessed February 27, 2017. http://english.thainguyen.gov.vn/-/characteristics-of-society-and-humanity.
“Economic development” Portal of Thái Nguyên Province, Vietnam. Accessed February 27, 2017. http://english.thainguyen.gov.vn/-/economic-development.
“Resettlement.” Masan Group: Vietnam’s premier private sector group. Accessed February 27, 2017. https://masangroup.com/masanresources/community/resettlement.
Richards, J.p. “The Nui Phao Tungsten-Fluorite-Copper-Gold-Bismuth Deposit, Northern Vietnam: An Opportunity for Sustainable Development.” Exploration and Mining Geology 12, no. 1-4 (2003): 61-70. doi:10.2113/0120061.
Shedd, Kim B. “Tungsten.” U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2016. Accessed February 27, 2017. https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/tungsten/mcs-2017-tungs.pdf.
Strigul, Nikolay, Agamemnon Koutsospyros, Per Arienti, Christos Christodoulatos, Dimitris Dermatas, and Washington Braida. “Effects of tungsten on environmental systems.” Chemosphere 61, no. 2 (2005): 248-58. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.01.083.
Werner, A.B.T., Sinclair, W.D., and Amey, E.B., 2014, International strategic mineral issues summary report— Tungsten (ver. 1.1, November 2014): U.S. Geological Survey Circular 930–O, 74 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/ circ/0930/o/. [Supersedes version 1.0 published in 1998; revisions in 2014 by John H. DeYoung, Jr., and Kim B. Shedd.]
Zientek , M.L., and Loferski, P.J., 2014, Platinum-group elements—So many excellent properties: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2014–3064, 2 p., https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20143064.