Antimony ore dressing technology | Antimony ore industry chain and dressing
Antimony is a key metal, mainly used in polymer flame retardants, lead-acid batteries, PET polyester catalysis, photovoltaic glass, military industry and other fields. It is dubbed "industrial MSG", "photovoltaic metal" and "war metal". The abundance of antimony in the earth's crust is only 0.2ppm, which is less than one-tenth of lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth and other elements, and the geological conditions for mineralization are extremely harsh. The global supply of antimony ore resources is highly concentrated in a few countries such as China, Russia, and Tajikistan, and the global static supply period is less than 25 years. Therefore, antimony is considered to be the key metal with the highest geopolitical supply risk besides rare earths, tungsten and beryllium, and is listed as a key mineral (key metal or key raw material) by the European Union, the United States, Japan and other countries (regions)
Antimony is a key metal, mainly used in polymer flame retardants, lead-acid batteries, PET polyester catalysis, photovoltaic glass, military industry and other fields. It is dubbed "industrial MSG", "photovoltaic metal" and "war metal". The abundance of antimony in the earth's crust is only 0.2ppm, which is less than one-tenth of lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth and other elements, and the geological conditions for mineralization are extremely harsh. The global supply of antimony ore resources is highly concentrated in a few countries such as China, Russia, and Tajikistan, and the global static supply period is less than 25 years. Therefore, antimony is considered to be the key metal with the highest geopolitical supply risk besides rare earths, tungsten and beryllium, and is listed as a key mineral (key metal or key raw material) by the European Union, the United States, Japan and other countries (regions).
1 Antimony resource industry chain The mineral resource industry chain refers to the chain or chain network formed by industrial sectors closely related to the production of mineral products based on certain technical and economic connections and spatial and temporal layout relationships, which can usually be divided into three links: upstream, midstream and downstream. Based on the above definition, this article divides the antimony resource industry chain from top to bottom: upstream - ore mining and secondary resource recovery midstream - metal smelting downstream - primary processed product production The antimony-containing products corresponding to each link are antimony resources, refined antimony, and antimony processed products. The three types of antimony-containing products are collectively referred to as antimony raw materials (Figure 1).
1.1 Analysis of the links in the industrial chain Upstream antimony resources link: involves three types of antimony-containing raw materials: antimony concentrate, antimony new degree scrap, and waste lead-acid batteries. Among them, antimony concentrate and antimony new degree scrap are usually used as direct raw materials for antimony metal production, while most waste lead-acid batteries are returned to lead-acid battery production in the form of lead-antimony alloy in the recycled lead smelter. Midstream smelting link: only involves refined antimony, a primary antimony-containing product. Downstream production link: involves three types of antimony processed products: high-purity antimony metal, antimony compounds, and antimony alloys, which can be further used in the manufacture of terminal products such as semiconductor devices, lead-acid batteries, and flame-retardant products. 1.2 Distribution of global antimony ore resources reserves Global antimony ore resources are mainly distributed along the Pacific Rim mineralization belt, the Mediterranean mineralization belt, and the Central Asian mineralization belt, of which more than 75% are distributed in the Pacific Rim mineralization belt. In 2023, the global antimony ore reserves will exceed 2 million tons (metal content, the same below), of which more than 80% are located in China, Russia, Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar (Figure 2). According to the prediction of DING et al., there are still more than 15 million tons (metal content) of antimony ore resources waiting to be discovered in China at a depth of less than 2 km underground.
Figure 2 Distribution of global antimony ore reserves in 2023 (Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS), Ministry of Natural Resources)
1.3 Global supply of antimony ore resources Antimony ore is also known as primary (primary) antimony resources. In recent years, the global supply of antimony ore has shifted from a single production pattern dominated by China to a diversified pattern jointly dominated by China, Russia and Tajikistan (Figure 3(a)). Before 2013, China produced more than 80% of the world's antimony ore and dominated the global antimony ore supply. After 2013, due to factors such as stricter domestic environmental protection regulations and declining reserves of antimony mines in production, China's antimony ore production dropped from 152,000 tons in 2013 to 46,000 tons in 2023. At the same time, the antimony ore production in Russia and Tajikistan increased to varying degrees, from 6,520 tons and 7,307 tons in 2013 to 16,000 tons and 8,250 tons in 2023, respectively, which to some extent made up for the supply gap caused by the decline in China's antimony ore production. In addition to China, Russia and Tajikistan, Australia, Bolivia, Myanmar and other countries also produce hundreds to thousands of tons of antimony ore each year (Figure 3(a)).
Figure 3 Changes in global antimony ore and recycled antimony production from 2003 to 2023 (left a, right b)
1.4 Global supply of recycled antimony Recycled antimony, also known as secondary antimony resources, mainly comes from recycled waste lead-acid batteries. From 2003 to 2023, the global supply of recycled antimony increased steadily, with production increasing from 11,000 tons (metal content, the same below) to 32,000 tons, an increase of nearly 2 times (Figure 3(b)). In 2023, China, the United States, and India are the world's top three recycled antimony producers, with production of 15,000 tons, 3,200 tons, and 2,560 tons, respectively. The three countries together account for 64% of the world's total recycled antimony production that year. Against the background of declining global antimony ore production, the status of recycled antimony in the global antimony resource supply structure has continued to rise, with its share increasing from 12% in 2003 to 33% in 2023 (Figure 4). This finding is consistent with the research results of BRINK et al.
Figure 4 Changes in global antimony resource supply structure from 2003 to 2023
2 Evolution of the international trade network of each link in the antimony industry chain 2.1 Upstream - international trade network of antimony resources Figure 5 shows the international trade network of upstream antimony resources in 2003 and 2023. China is the core country in the trade network.
Figure 5 International trade network of upstream antimony resources in 2003 and 2023 (Note: ① Countries in the same continent have the same color; ② Only countries with a trade volume greater than 50 t are shown; ③ The edge width is proportional to the trade volume) Composition of traded commodities: Antimony ore is the most important antimony resource commodity, accounting for more than 80% of the total global antimony resource trade volume, while the trade volume of secondary antimony resources composed of waste lead-acid batteries and new antimony waste and scrap accounts for less than 20% (Figure 6).
Figure 6 Changes in global antimony resource trade volume and trade structure from 2003 to 2023
Changes in trade volume: The scale of global antimony resource trade has changed significantly after 2009. From 2003 to 2009, the global antimony resource trade volume was basically stable at 15,000 to 20,000 t/a (metal volume, the same below). From 2010 to 2023, the global antimony resource trade volume has experienced two rounds of "rise and fall" cycles (Figure 7). In 2023, the global antimony resource trade volume will be 29,000 tons, which is more than half of the peak period in 2018 (60,000 tons). Changes in China's domestic antimony ore production and antimony resource demand are generally considered to be the main reasons affecting the global antimony resource trade pattern. Table 1 The world's top five antimony resource trading countries and trade relations.
Main exporting countries: Russia, Tajikistan, Myanmar and other countries are the main exporters of antimony resources. Main importing countries: China is the world's largest importer of antimony resources. From 2003 to 2023, Russia, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Australia accounted for 66% of the world's total antimony resource exports. Among them, Russia and Tajikistan exported 167,475 tons and 137,835 tons of antimony resources respectively, accounting for 24% and 20% of the world's total antimony resource exports. From 2003 to 2023, China imported 466,908 tons of antimony resources, accounting for 67% of the world. In addition to China, Oman and India have seen rapid growth in antimony resource imports in recent years. In 2023, the two countries' antimony resource imports ranked second and third in the world respectively. Oman's SPMP gold-antimony smelter was officially put into production in 2019. The smelter's refined antimony design capacity reached 20,000 tons/a, and it was produced using imported raw materials. If it reaches full production, Oman's antimony resource imports will inevitably increase further. The rapid economic development of India has led to a rapid increase in its demand for antimony resources. However, due to the lack of antimony ore resources in India, it can only obtain the required antimony resources through imports, which has led to a rapid increase in India's antimony resource imports in recent years. 2.2 Midstream - International Trade Network of Refined Antimony Figure 8 shows the international trade network of refined antimony in 2003 and 2023. Compared with 2003, the number of core countries in the network in 2023 has increased significantly. Changes in trade volume: From 2003 to 2023, the global refined antimony trade volume fluctuated from 48,000 tons to 35,000 tons, and the scale decreased (Figure 7).
Export pattern: The global refined antimony supply pattern shows a clear trend of diversification. The refined antimony exports of Tajikistan, Vietnam and other countries have increased, while the refined antimony exports of China have decreased. From 2003 to 2023, China's refined antimony exports decreased from 38,755t to 7480t, a decrease of 81%. The refined antimony exports of Tajikistan, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Oman and other countries have increased to varying degrees, and the status of the five countries in the global refined antimony supply market has increased significantly. Import pattern: The global refined antimony import pattern is relatively stable, and imports are mainly concentrated in five developed countries: Belgium, France, South Korea, Japan and the United States. From 2003 to 2023, the refined antimony of the five countries accounted for 70% of the total global imports during the same period. 2.3 Downstream - International trade network of antimony processed products Figure 8 shows the international trade network of antimony processed products in 2003 and 2023.
Figure 8 International trade network of antimony processed products in 2003 and 2023
Changes in trade volume: The global trade volume of antimony processed products first fluctuated and declined (2003-2013), and then basically remained at 70,000-80,000 t/a (2014-2023). Composition of trade commodities: Antimony oxide has always been the most important trade commodity, accounting for more than 80% of the trade volume, followed by lead-antimony alloy, accounting for 10%-20% of the trade volume (Figure 9).
On August 15, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued an announcement, announcing that they would implement export controls on antimony and other items. The above policy will be officially implemented on September 15, 2024. Major exporting countries: China and the United States are the world's largest exporters and importers of antimony processed products, respectively. From 2003 to 2023, China's cumulative exports of antimony processed products reached 794,445 tons, accounting for 45% of the world's total exports during the same period. Belgium and France ranked second and third in the export of antimony processed products, respectively. Major importing countries: The United States, Germany, and Japan are the world's top three importers of antimony processed products. From 2003 to 2023, the cumulative imports of antimony processed products in the three countries accounted for 25%, 8%, and 6% of the world, respectively. Indian market: India's imports of antimony processed products have increased significantly in recent years. In 2023, the import volume was 7,639 tons, making it the world's second largest importer of antimony processed products after the United States. The beneficiation of antimony ore is located in the upstream of the antimony resource industry chain. The beneficiation method of antimony ore mainly depends on the ore type, the occurrence state of antimony minerals and the composition of associated minerals. Common antimony minerals include stibnite (Sb₂S₃), antimony ochre (Sb₂O₄), etc., among which stibnite is the most important industrial mineral. The beneficiation technology of antimony ore mainly includes hand selection, gravity separator, flotation machine, combined process, etc.
1. Applicable conditions for hand selection: Applicable to high-grade block antimony ore (high stibnite content). Process characteristics: Manual selection of large blocks of rich ore, low cost but low efficiency, suitable for small-scale mines or pre-selection operations.
2. Applicable conditions for gravity separator: Applicable to ores with large density differences between stibnite and gangue minerals (such as quartz and calcite). Common equipment: jig machine, shaking table(shaker table), spiral chute(spiral separator). Process characteristics: low energy consumption, no chemical pollution, suitable for small and medium-sized mines. The recovery rate of fine-grained antimony minerals is low and often needs to be used in combination with other methods.
spiral chute
Shaking table
Jig Machine
3. Applicable conditions for flotation: Applicable to fine-grained or low-grade antimony ores, especially antimony sulfide ores (stibnite). Reagent system: Collectors: xanthate (ethyl xanthate, butyl xanthate), black medicine. Depressants: lime (depresses pyrite), cyanide (depresses iron sulfide minerals). Activator: copper sulfate (activates stibnite).
Flotation Machine
