Werner, et al., reported in 2015 that Indium and other geologically scarce metals are routinely integrated into green technologies and modern consumer electronics. The manufacture of solar cells and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) relies strongly on continued indium supply, yet very little research has been conducted to determine what total resources exist to meet future or even present needs.
The authors provided an understanding of the nature of indium resources and the current and future production and supply of this critical metal through a summary of global trends in indium production and demand, and through a preliminary account of global code-based reporting of indium mineral resources. Authors also present an overview of the potential for indium extraction from mine wastes and recycled electronics using Canadian and Australian case studies. Our preliminary data suggest that considerable resources are likely to exist in a diversity of deposits globally, which have the potential to meet long-term demand for indium. However, it is clear that a secured future supply of this metal will require some shift of focus from conventional extraction practices.
It will be necessary to revisit controls on the conversion of resources to reserves and to supply and the discovery of additional resources to replace those depleted by continuing production. The prospects for indium supply from mine wastes and recycled electronics are found to be substantial, and these sources warrant greater consideration given their probable environmental and social advantages over the discovery and development of new primary indium deposits.
The authors provided:
- a preliminary analysis of global indium resources based on a summary of its reported presence in individual deposits.
- an estimate of indium resources in tailings and slag wastes through analysis of past company, national production and indium deportment datasets.
- a summary of indium-associated deposit classifications.
- a review of the potential for supply from recycled products.
The authors concluded that:
- Based on the limited code-based reporting of indium resources, a geological resource of this critical metal is likely to exist that is capable of meeting demand well
into the twenty-first century, though further research is necessary to estimate precise resource quantities. - The economic factors controlling indium extraction and processing have led to significant wastage in the past, and, given the substantial quantities calculated, it
will be important to consider mine wastes as a major contributor to future supply. - There is some potential for indium supply from EOL electronics given expected increases in WEEE quantities and potential price, though significant governmental,
institutional and technical challenges must first be overcome.
The concepts and procedures presented by the authors will form the basis of future work in the fields of mineral resource accounting and material flow analysis for
companion metals in Australia and globally.
See Part II: http://i2mportal.com/resource_detail.php?resource_id=8953
See Part III: http://i2mportal.com/resource_detail.php?resource_id=8954
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