Review of publicly available academic, industry, and NGO research as well as first-hand personal accounts of the impacts of tungsten mining and processing.

Summary:

• Tungsten (abbreviated W) is a rare element in the earth’s crust, with low-grade ores (0.3-1.5% WO3)

• However, its properties (such as the highest density of all metals) make it uniquely suited to a variety of applications - primarily the production of tungsten-carbide (cemented carbide) tools

• The natural brittleness of its ores, however, leads to a large amount of tungsten losses during initial grinding and crushing

• The ores are co-present with heavy metals (like arsenic) and sulfides, leading to acid mine drainage when exposed to water and air

• Most tungsten today is actually mined and produced in China, despite its status as a conflict mineral in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Recycling tungsten has multiple benefits including: energy savings (estimated over 70%), emissions reductions (40%), less solid and hazardous waste creation, reduced water use

• Most post-consumer tungsten recycling today comes from tungsten carbide hard-metal scraps; mobile phones for example are rarely recycled for their tungsten content due to its low % of the overall mass (<1%)