Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study

Demand for niobium and tantalum is increasing exponentially as these are essential ingredients the manufacture of, among others, capacitors in technological devices ferroniobium. Mine tailings rich such elements could constitute an important source of Nb Ta future alleviate potential supply risks. This paper evaluates possibility recovering from slags generated during tin beneficiation process mine old Penouta mine, located Spain. To do so, a simulation processes required to beneficiate refine both carried out. After carbothermic reduction, sent hydrometallurgical where oxide obtained at end. Reagents, water, energy consumption, addition emissions, effluents, product yields, assessed. Certain factors were identified critical, recirculation was encouraged model maximise production minimise reagents’ use wastes. With this simulation, considering 3000 hours per year, metal output cover around 1% 7.4% world annual demand, respectively.