Search Results (21)

Depletion of reserves of rich copper–porphyry ore deposits necessitates the development of highly efficient methods for Mo (VI) extraction from complex, corrosive hydro-metallurgical media. The present study undertakes a comprehensive assessment of sorptive concentration of Mo (VI) from strongly acidic sulfate solutions (120 g/L H₂SO₄) by employing a spectrum of commercially available strong- and weak-base anion-exchange resins. It has been established that the macroporous weak-base anion exchanger Purolite A-100 demonstrates decisive superiority over gel-type analogs (Lewatit M-800, AB-17), facilitating unimpeded intra-gel diffusion of bulky molybdenyl sulfato-complexes anions, thereby circumventing the obstructive “sieve effect.” Thermodynamic and kinetic investigations revealed that the sorption process exhibits pronounced concentration- and pH-dependent characteristics. Peak extraction efficiency (up to 95.91%) is achieved at pH ≈ 1, a finding that correlates with the region of maximal protonation of tertiary amino groups within the resin matrix. Kinetic acceleration of mass transfer upon heating to 80 °C has been experimentally confirmed, yielding 94.6% extraction within 60 min. The obtained results corroborate the prospective integration of macroporous weak-base anion exchangers into operational hydro-metallurgical schemes as an environmentally benign and efficacious alternative to conventional solvent extraction of molybdenum. Full article

The Yechangping super-large porphyry–skarn deposit is a key component of the East Qinling molybdenum metallogenic belt, central China. Magnetite is widely developed across all mineralization stages of this deposit, yet its systematic geochemical evolution and prospecting significance remain poorly constrained. This study presents in situ major- and trace-element analyses of magnetite via electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and elemental mapping, to unravel the ore-forming hydrothermal evolution and establish reliable prospecting indicators. Four magnetite generations are identified based on petrography and paragenetic relationships: late skarn stage (Mt1), oxide stage (Mt2 and Mt3), and polymetallic sulfide stage (Mt4). Magnetite has total iron contents (TFeO, total Fe calculated as FeO) of 82.72–95.46 wt.% (values above the 93 wt.% stoichiometric limit of pure magnetite stem from minor oxidation), with dominant isovalent Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ lattice substitution supported by a significant negative Fe–Al correlation. Systematic stage-dependent geochemical variations are observed: Mt1 has the highest Ti (mostly >1500 ppm), V and Cr, while Mt2–Mt4 show progressive Ti depletion (mostly <100 ppm), recording continuous cooling of the hydro-thermal system. V and Cr contents decrease markedly from Mt1 to Mt3, with secondary enrichment in Mt4; Mo concentrations peak in Mt2 (average 5.06 ppm), coupled with elevated chalcophile metalloid Te, As, Pb and Bi. Elemental mapping results show that K occurs as discrete hotspots, which may be mainly derived from feldspar microinclusions, rather than lattice substitution in magnetite. These geochemical fingerprints record a transition from high-temperature magmatic–hydrothermal fluids to late contact-metasomatic fluids, with evolving fluid–rock interaction and oxygen fugacity. Our results demonstrate that magnetite chemistry is a reliable tool for discriminating mineralization stages and vectoring prospecting targets in porphyry–skarn Mo–W systems. Full article

The Nakexiuma area in the East Kunlun Orogen Belt hosts two spatially distinct mineralization systems: uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) in schist and granitoid, and tungsten-molybdenum (W-Mo) in skarn and granitoid. To clarify their genetic relationship, we conducted U-Pb dating and trace element analyses on zircon, garnet, and uraninite. Zircon from granitoids yields a crystallization age of 250 ± 2.3 Ma, followed by W-Mo mineralization at 245 ± 2.1 Ma (garnet) and U-Mo mineralization at 235 ± 9 Ma (uraninite), indicating a prolonged magmatic-hydrothermal history spanning approximately 15 million years. Trace element data reveal a shift in fluid chemistry over time: Skarn garnets show high W contents, suggesting oxidizing, high-temperature fluids; uraninite displays REE depletion and negative Eu anomalies, precipitated from oxidizing fluids encountering a reducing environment. We propose that the W, U, and Mo mineralization in Nakexiuma is the result of this long-lived magmatic-hydrothermal system. The spatial separation of these mineralization systems is attributed to a multi-stage process involving host rock lithology and fluid redox evolution. Early oxidizing fluids from granitoids metasomatized carbonates to form W-Mo mineralization skarn. Later, meteoric water influx increased oxygen fugacity, generating U-rich, highly oxidizing fluids that precipitated uraninite and molybdenite upon interaction with the reducing meta-mafic rocks. These results highlight the roles of lithology and fluid chemistry in controlling spatially separated mineralization within the same system. Furthermore, they expand the Early Mesozoic metallogenic spectrum of the East Kunlun Belt, providing a refined model for polymetallic ore formation in a post-collisional extensional setting. Full article

The Shizhuyuan polymetallic deposit in Hunan Province, China, is a world-class ore field rich in tungsten (W), tin (Sn), molybdenum (Mo), and bismuth (Bi), now facing resource depletion due to prolonged exploitation. This study addresses the limitations of traditional geological prediction methods in complex terrain by integrating multi-source datasets—including γ-ray spectrometry, high-precision magnetometry, induced polarization (IP), and soil radon measurements—across 5049 samples. Unsupervised factor analysis was employed to extract five key ore-indicating factors, explaining 82.78% of data variance. Based on these geological features, predictive models including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were constructed and compared. SHAP values were employed to quantify the contribution of each geological feature to the prediction outcomes, thereby transforming the machine learning “black-box models” into an interpretable geological decision-making basis. The results demonstrate that machine learning, particularly when integrated with multi-source data, provides a powerful and interpretable approach for deep mineral prospectivity mapping in concealed terrains. Full article

The urgent demand for sustainable energy solutions in the face of climate change and resource depletion has catalyzed a global shift toward cleaner energy production and more efficient storage technologies. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as the cornerstone of modern portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage systems, are continually evolving to meet the growing performance requirements. In this dynamic context, two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as highly promising candidates for use in electrodes due to their layered structure, tunable electronic properties, and high theoretical capacity. Among 2D materials, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has gained increasing attention as a promising low-dimensional candidate for LIB anode applications. This review provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of recent advances in the application of MoS₂ in LIB electrodes, with particular attention to its unique electrochemical behavior at the nanoscale. We critically examine the interplay between structural features, charge-storage mechanisms, and performance metrics—chiefly the specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability. Furthermore, we discuss current challenges, primarily poor intrinsic conductivity and volume fluctuations, and highlight innovative strategies aimed at overcoming these limitations, such as through nanostructuring, composite formation, and surface engineering. By shedding light on the opportunities and hurdles in this rapidly progressing field, this work offers a forward-looking perspective on the role of MoS₂ in the next generation of high-performance LIBs. Full article

The increasing energy demand for and fast depletion of fossil fuels have driven the need to explore renewable and clean energy sources. Hydrogen production via water electrocatalysis is considered a promising green fuel technology for addressing global energy and environmental challenges while supporting sustainable development. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has emerged as a potential electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and super-capacitor (SC) applications due to its high electrochemical activity, low cost, and abundance. However, compared to noble metals like platinum (Pt), MoS₂ exhibit lower HER activity in water electrocatalysis. Therefore, further modification is needed to enhance its catalytic performance. To address this, MoS₂ has been effectively modified with materials such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), polymers, metal oxides, and MXenes. These modifications significantly improve the electrochemical properties of MoS₂, enhancing its performance in HER and SC applications. In this review article, we have compiled recent reports on the fabrication of MoS₂-based hybrid materials for HER and SC applications. The challenges, advantages, and future perspectives of MoS₂-based materials for HERs and SCs have been discussed. It is believed that readers may benefit from the recent updates on the fabrication of MoS₂-based hybrid materials for HER and SC applications. Full article

Integrated geochemical, U-Pb zircon, and Pb isotopic data from granitoids of the Wulandele porphyry molybdenum deposit, northeastern Inner Mongolia, are reported to disclose the possible magmatic process and Mo ore-forming process. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating constrains the timing of the quartz diorite and monzonitic granite to 282 ± 2.4 Ma and 135.4 ± 2.1 Ma, respectively. The ages are accordant with geological facts which state that the shallow Permian granitoids are only the ore-hosting rock while the concealed Cretaceous fine-grained granite is the causative intrusion. Whole-rock geochemical data show that the granitoids belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series, and are enriched in LILEs, but depleted in HSFEs. Permian granitoids exhibit I-type characteristics, while Cretaceous granite is akin to A-type granite. Pb isotopic ratios are consistent between Permian granitoids and Cretaceous granite with ratios of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.048–18.892, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.488–15.571, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 37.066–38.441. Considering geological and geochemical features together, Permian granitoids are interpreted as subduction-related continental margin high-K calc-alkaline rocks, while Cretaceous granite may be the result of the remelting of the relic Permian arc in an extensional environment induced by the rollback of the Paleo-Pacific plate. Different from classical porphyry-type deposits, the Wulandele Mo deposit, which formed in an intraplate tectonic setting, indicates that the intraplate porphyry Mo deposit should be one of the important exploration targets in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, especially its eastern segment. Full article

The depletion of valuable mineral reserves has rendered effluents generated from mining and industrial processing activities a promising resource for the production of precious elements. The synthesis and improvement of new adsorbents to extract valuable compounds from industrial wastes and pregnant leach solutions, besides increasing wealth, can play a significant role in reducing environmental concerns. In this work, a new and low-cost adsorbent for the selective extraction of rhenium (perrhenate ions, ReO₄⁻) was synthesized by the free-radical polymerization (FRP) of a diallyl dimethylammonium chloride monomer (quaternary amine) in the presence of a crosslinker. Various methods were employed to characterize the polymeric adsorbent. The results revealed that the designed polymeric adsorbent had a high surface area and pores with nano-metric dimensions and a pore volume of 6.4 × 10⁻³ cm³/g. Four environments—single, binary, multicomponent, and real solutions—were applied to evaluate the adsorbent’s performance in the selective separation of Re. Additionally, these environments were used to understand the behavior of molybdenum ions, the primary competitors of perrhenate ions in the ion exchange process. In competitive conditions, using variations in q_e,mix/q_e, an antagonism phenomenon (q_e,mix/q_e < 1) occurred due to the inhibitory effect of surface-adsorbed molybdenum ions on the binding of the perrhenate ions. However, across all conditions, the separation values for Re were higher than those for the other studied elements (Mo, Cu, Fe). Full article

A series of Mo-polymetallic deposits have been developed in the Jiaodong Peninsula. Notably, these Mo-dominant deposits formed essentially during the same period as the well-known world-class Au deposits in this area, hinting at a potentially unique geological correlation between them. Therefore, conducting thorough research on Mo deposits in Jiaodong holds significant importance in exploring the area’s controlling factors of Mesozoic metal endowments. To reveal the petrogenesis and metallogenic potentials of Mo-fertile and ore-barren granitoid, apatite grains from the Late Aptian Nansu granodiorite and Aishan monzogranite are investigated in this study. Detailed petrographical observations, combined with in situ analysis of electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) and Laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), have been conducted on apatite grains from the Nansu and Aishan plutons. This comprehensive analysis, encompassing both major and trace elements as well as isotopic characteristics of apatite, aims to elucidate the metallogenic differences within the late Early Cretaceous granitoids of Jiaodong. The results reveal that the apatite grains across all samples belong to fluorapatites, suggesting their magmatic origin. Additionally, chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of apatites in ore-fertile and ore-barren granitoids exhibit a “right-leaning” trend, characterized by relative enrichments in light REEs and depletions in heavy REEs. Both the Nansu and Aishan plutons exhibit moderately negative Eu anomalies (with averages δEu values of 0.44 and 0.51, respectively), along with slightly positive Ce anomalies (averaging δCe values of 1.08 and 1.11, respectively). A negative correlation is observed between their δEu and δCe values, indicating that the parental magmas of ore-fertile and ore-barren granitoids were formed in a relatively oxidizing environment. The calculated apatite OH contents for the Nansu pluton range from 0.26 to 1.38, while those for the Aishan pluton vary between 0.24 and 1.51, indicating comparable melt H₂O abundances. Consequently, the results suggest that neither the oxygen fugacities nor the water contents of the parental magma can account for the metallogenic differences between Nansu and Aishan plutons. The apatite in the Nansu pluton exhibits a higher Ce/Pb ratio and a relatively lower Th/U ratio, indicating the involvement of a greater volume of fluids in the magmatic evolution process of this ore-bearing granitoid. Apatite grains sourced from the Nansu and Aishan plutons exhibit ε_Nd(t) values ranging from −16.63 to −17.61 (t = 115.7 Ma) and −17.86 to −20.86 (t = 116.8 Ma), respectively. These results suggest that their parental magmas primarily originated from the partial melting of Precambrian metamorphic basement rocks within the North China Craton, with a minor contribution from mantle-derived materials. Additionally, the presence of mafic microgranular enclaves in both the Nansu and Aishan plutons indicates that both have undergone magma mixing processes. The binary diagrams plotting the ratios of Ba/Th, Sr/Th, and U/Th against La/Sm demonstrate that apatite grains of ore-fertile granitoid exhibit a distinct trend towards sediment melting. This suggests the potential incorporation of sedimentary materials, particularly those rich in molybdenum, into the magmatic source of the Nansu pluton, ultimately leading to the occurrence of molybdenum mineralization. Full article

We report on the development of scintillating bolometers based on lithium molybdate crystals that contain molybdenum that has depleted into the double-$\beta$ active isotope ${}^{100}$Mo (Li${}_2$${}^{100\mathrm{depl}}$MoO${}_4$). We used two Li${}_2$${}^{100\mathrm{depl}}$MoO${}_4$ cubic samples, each of which consisted of 45-millimeter sides and had a mass of 0.28 kg; these samples were produced following the purification and crystallization protocols developed for double-$\beta$ search experiments with ${}^{100}$Mo-enriched Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ crystals. Bolometric Ge detectors were utilized to register the scintillation photons that were emitted by the Li${}_2$${}^{100\mathrm{depl}}$MoO${}_4$ crystal scintillators. The measurements were performed in the CROSS cryogenic set-up at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (Spain). We observed that the Li${}_2$${}^{100\mathrm{depl}}$MoO${}_4$ scintillating bolometers were characterized by an excellent spectrometric performance (∼3–6 keV of FWHM at 0.24–2.6 MeV $\gamma$s), moderate scintillation signal (∼0.3–0.6 keV/MeV scintillation-to-heat energy ratio, depending on the light collection conditions), and high radiopurity (${}^{228}$Th and ${}^{226}$Ra activities are below a few µBq/kg), which is comparable with the best reported results of low-temperature detectors that are based on Li${}_2$MoO${}_4$ using natural or ${}^{100}$Mo-enriched molybdenum content. The prospects of Li${}_2$${}^{100\mathrm{depl}}$MoO${}_4$ bolometers for use in rare-event search experiments are briefly discussed. Full article

The Chang’anpu Molybdenum deposit occurs in the monzogranite intrusions in the Lesser Khingan Mountains-Zhangguangcai Mountains metallogenic belt. Previous work focused on the study of deposits, including geological characteristics, mineralization time, S-Pb isotope, etc. However, systematic petrogeochemical study of monzogranite intrusion and comparative analysis with other porphyry deposits in the region are lacking. Three monzogranite dating samples yield LA-ICP-MS zircon weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 174.7 ± 1.3 Ma, 174.9 ± 1.4 Ma, and 174.3 ± 1.8 Ma, respectively, indicating that the magmatism occurred in the middle Jurassic of Mesozoic. The 14 monzogranite samples show alkali rich and relatively high silica content (up to 84.39%) with the differentiation index (DI) ranges from 86 to 96, showing that monzogranite have been subjected to fractional crystallization during its evolution; the depletion of Ba, Sr, P, Nb, Ti, and Eu also indicates that the rock has undergone crystallization fractionation, the monzogranite belong to the highly fractionated I-type. Positive ε_Hf(t) values (6.72–8.85) and young T_DM2 (551–673 Ma) of the monzogranite indicate that the formation of Chang’anpu monzogranite intrusion is related to the partial melting of juvenile lower crust, originated from the Mesoproterozoic depleted mantle. The magmatism and related Mo mineralization in the Chang’anpu deposit occurred in an active continental margin setting associated with westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate beneath the Eurasian plate. Full article

Ni-gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) based electrode materials have drawn significant attention as an alternative fuel electrode for solid oxide cells (SOCs) owing to mixed ionic conductivity of GDC and high electronic and catalytic activity of Ni. Moreover, the catalytic activity and electrochemical performance of the Ni-GDC electrode can be further improved by dispersing small quantities of other metal additives, such as gold or molybdenum. Therefore, herein, we considered gold and molybdenum modified Ni-GDC electrodes and focused on the upscaling; hence, we prepared 5 × 5 cm² electrolyte-supported single cells. Their electrochemical performance was investigated at different temperatures and fuel gas compositions. The long-term steam electrolysis test, up to 1700 h, was performed at 900 °C with −0.3 A·cm⁻² current load. Lastly, post-test analyses of measured cells were carried out to investigate their degradation mechanisms. Sr-segregation and cobalt oxide formation towards the oxygen electrode side, and Ni-particle coarsening and depletion away from the electrolyte towards the fuel electrode side, were observed, and can be considered as a main reason for the degradation. Thus, modification of Ni/GDC with Au and Mo seems to significantly improve the electro-catalytic activity of the electrode; however, it does not significantly mitigate the Ni-migration phenomenon after prolonged operation. Full article

Carbide precipitation in martensitic low alloyed steels contributes to the mechanical properties through precipitation hardening. A high number density of carbides is desired to maximize the hardening effect, which is achieved through the precipitation of carbides on the dislocations in the martensitic structure. In this study, the nucleation, growth, and coarsening of vanadium and molybdenum carbides during aging at 600 °C for periods up to four weeks were investigated. The work covers characterization with atom probe tomography, which showed that the nucleation of V and Mo rich MC/M₂C carbides takes place on dislocations. The growth of these carbides proceeds by the diffusion of elements to the dislocations, which has been modeled using Dictra software, confirming the rate of the reaction as well as the depletion of carbide formers in the matrix. For longer aging times, particle coarsening will decrease the number density of particles with a transition from dislocation-based carbides to separate rounded carbides. Full article

The Piip Volcano is a submarine volcanic edifice occupying the central part of the Volcanologists Massif in the southwestern Bering Sea, with two tops, southern and northern. The minimum depth of the northern top is located at 368 m, and of the southern at 464 m. Active hydrothermal venting occurring at both summits of the volcano supports diverse biological communities, including animals specific for chemosynthetic habitats. In benthic organisms inhabiting the northern and southern tops of the Piip Volcano, for the first time, we examined distribution patterns of the following trace elements: titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, antimony, barium, tungsten, lead, bismuth, and uranium. The element contents were quantified by the ICP-MS. Total carbon (TC) and total inorganic carbon (TIC) were determined using a Shimadzu TOC-L-CPN and mineral composition of sediment was determined using the XRD. In the water of the biotope from the northern top, concentrations of Mn, Zn, Ag, Cd, Sb, W, Pb were 2–6 times, and Ba was 50 times higher than those from the southern top. This was attributed to the lower temperature of fluids emanating at the southern top. An abundant population of Calyptogena pacifica (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae: Pliocardiinae) was found only at the southern top. The main target of most trace elements, such as Fe, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, W, Pb, Bi, and U were the soft parts of Calyptogena pacifica (with high TOC content, on average 53.1% in gills and 49.6% in the rest of the body). Gills were characterized by particular high contents (>100 µg g⁻¹ dry w.) of Zn, Cd, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Pb, which can form sulphides or be associated with them. Shells of C. pacifica, as well as Brachiopoda, were depleted in these elements, as well as tissues of the carnivores Paguridae (Crustacea) and Actiniaria (Anthozoa). In suspension feeders from both tops, the lower contents of most elements were detected. Estimation of Biological Concentration Factor (BCF) for most elements varied from 10² to 10⁴, reaching n10⁵ for Ni, Zn, Ag, Cd, and Pb. A significant difference in BCF values between Fe and Mn was revealed. Full article

Uranium-Molybdenum alloy has been a promising option in the production of metallic nuclear fuels, where the introduction of Molybdenum enhances mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and dimensional stability of fuel components. Meanwhile, few potential options for molecular dynamics simulations of U and its alloys have been reported due to the difficulty in the description of the directional effects within atomic interactions, mainly induced by itinerant f-electron behaviors. In the present study, a new angular dependent potential formalism proposed by the author’s group has been further applied to the description of the U-Mo systems, which has achieved a moderately well reproduction of macroscopic properties such as lattice constants and elastic constants of reference phases. Moreover, the potential has been further improved to more accurately describe the threshold displacement energy surface at intermediate and short atomic distances. Simulations of primary radiation damage in solid solutions of the U-Mo system have also been carried out and an uplift in the residual defect population has been observed when the Mo content decreases to around 5 wt.%, which corroborates the negative role of local Mo depletion in mitigation of irradiation damage and consequent swelling behavior. Full article