The availability of primary rhenium as a by-product of copper and molybdenum mining

Abstract

Abstract Rhenium is a valuable rare metal that is primarily captured as a by-product during the processing of copper and molybdenum. Its complex capture pathway and low annual production (< 100 tons per year) mean that there is limited information about how current capture compares with the amounts of rhenium geologically present in mined material. This study compiles deposit rhenium grades and mine production data to estimate the flow of rhenium in mined material, including through international trade. It is found that less than 12% of rhenium present in ore is captured; however, capture may be as high as 30 to 44% when accounting for technical recovery limits. This has substantial impacts on the future availability of rhenium as the current supply chain faces a geologically imposed limit of rhenium available in ores. Further increases in primary metal capture beyond technical recovery limits can only be achieved by increasing the mining of the copper and molybdenum host ores.