Rio Tinto has become the first producer in North America of the critical mineral scandium oxide, which it has produced in high purity from its commercial-scale demonstration plant in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (RTFT) recently completed commissioning and will now turn its focus to ramping the plant up to nameplate capacity, 3 tonnes annually. That capacity will make up 20% of the global market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The facility uses an innovative process developed by RTFT to extract high-purity scandium oxide from the waste streams of titanium dioxide production, without the need for any additional mining. The end uses include solid oxide fuel cells and aluminium alloys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company is also considering near-term expansion options to increase production capacity in line with market demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Managing Director St\u00e9phane Leblanc said: \u201cThis is a key milestone in the development of a secure supply of scandium, demonstrating our ability to de-risk the global supply chain for this critical mineral. With this breakthrough process creating value from waste, Rio Tinto Fer et Titane\u2019s ambition is to become a key supplier in the global scandium market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RTFT operates an open cast ilmenite mine at Lac Tio near Havre-Saint-Pierre, on Quebec\u2019s North Shore, for the titanium dioxide feedstock along with pig iron, steel and metal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n