How to Extract Tungsten

The mining methods used depends on the physical and chemical properties of the mineral, tonnage and grade, the physical form in which it occurs, the geometry and the depth of the orebody. The common extraction methods are surface (or open pit) mining and sub-surface (or underground) mining, or a combination of both.

Surface mining Open-pit mining is used if near-surface ore body is massive or when it occurs in steeply-dipping lode(s), sheeted vein systems, pipes, or makes up the bulk of the country rock as in disseminated or prophyry-style deposits. The whole ore body is mined with no overburden being put back into the void during the extraction operation. Some placer deposits are amenable to strip mining or dredging operations. In strip mining the overburden is removed and deposited in the hole left from the excavation of the previous strip or panel and the ore can be simply dug out. Hydraulic mining is commonly used in reclamation of old mine tailings that still contain payable values of tungsten. Underground mining Tungsten Mining & Beneficiation Underground mining is preferred when surface mining is, or becomes, expensive. A major factor in the decision to mine underground is the ratio of waste to ore (strip ratio).

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