Tungsten, Nickel, Molybdenum and Cobalt
Geography › Mineral and Energy Resources · Topic 21.10
Tungsten, nickel, molybdenum and cobalt are alloying metals that make steel and superalloys hard, heat-resistant and corrosion-proof, and nickel and cobalt are key to modern batteries. Tungsten comes from wolframite and scheelite, nickel from laterite and sulphide ores, cobalt mostly as a by-product of copper and nickel. China dominates tungsten, Indonesia nickel and the Democratic Republic of the Congo cobalt. India has very small resources, and imports almost all of them.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Mineral and Energy Resources
At a Glance
- Tungsten ores Wolframite, scheelite
- Nickel leader Indonesia
- Cobalt leader Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Molybdenum Chile, China, United States
- India Mostly imported
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Mineral and Energy Resources
Where Does It Fit?
This is the tenth topic of the macro on mineral and energy resources. The previous topic covered manganese and chromite, and this one covers four more alloy metals. The next topic covers copper. Previous topic: Manganese and Chromite. Next topic: Copper.
What Are These Metals Used For?
| Metal | Ores | Properties and uses |
|---|---|---|
| Tungsten | Wolframite and scheelite | The highest melting point of all metals, about 3,400 degrees Celsius; used for lamp filaments, cutting tools, drill bits, armour-piercing ammunition, and heat-resistant steel |
| Nickel | Nickel laterites (about two-thirds of resources) and sulphide ores | Stainless steel (about two-thirds of use), alloys, electroplating, coins, and nickel-rich cathodes of electric vehicle batteries |
| Molybdenum | Molybdenite, mostly a by-product of copper mining | Strengthens steel at high temperatures and under corrosion; used in pipelines, tools, aircraft and catalysts for removing sulphur from fuel |
| Cobalt | By-product of copper and nickel ores, with some in laterite | Lithium-ion battery cathodes, superalloys for jet engines, magnets and pigments |
All four are called strategic or critical minerals because modern industry, defence, electronics and energy transition technologies depend on them, while supply comes from a few countries, as in Lithium and Strategic Minerals. Tungsten carbide, for example, is used in the tips of mining drills and machine tools, and nickel-based superalloys sit in the hot section of jet engines. Molybdenum-bearing steels are used in oil and gas pipelines. Because the metals are rarely mined for their own sake, their output depends on the copper and nickel industries, and a fall in those industries can reduce supply.
Where Are They Found?
- Tungsten: China holds the largest reserves and supplies about four-fifths of the world’s output, with Vietnam, Russia and Bolivia next. India has small deposits, such as the Degana wolframite mine in Nagaur, Rajasthan, which is no longer worked, and scheelite occurrences in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
- Nickel: Indonesia is by far the largest producer, from laterite ores, followed by the Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia, Canada and Australia. India’s resource is mostly in the chromite overburden of the Sukinda valley in Odisha, with smaller occurrences in Jharkhand (Jaduguda and Singhbhum), Karnataka, Nagaland and Kerala, and the country has no large mine, so it imports nickel.
- Molybdenum: Chile, China, the United States and Peru are the leading producers, mostly as a by-product of copper, and India has only minor occurrences in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, so there is no real production.
- Cobalt: the Democratic Republic of the Congo produces about three-quarters of the world’s cobalt in the Copperbelt, with Indonesia growing as a by-product of nickel processing; most is refined in China. India has no significant domestic production and imports cobalt compounds.
The concentration in a few countries makes these metals prone to supply shocks, and export curbs, as when Indonesia banned the export of raw nickel ore to build local processing, or China’s controls on some critical minerals.
How Does India Respond?
- Critical minerals list: India’s list of critical minerals, finalised in 2023, includes cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and tungsten, among thirty minerals, and the law was amended to allow auctions of critical mineral blocks and to let the private sector explore.
- National Critical Mineral Mission: launched in 2025 to promote exploration, processing and recycling, and to build overseas supply. Reports differ on its outlay, so the official figure should be checked.
- Overseas assets: Khanij Bidesh India Limited, KABIL, a joint venture of public sector firms, seeks mineral assets abroad, and India has signed partnerships with Australia, Argentina, Chile and others.
- Recycling: the recovery of nickel and cobalt from used batteries and scrap is encouraged.
As an analytical point, India’s weakness is not only geological but also industrial: it has no refining capacity for most of these metals, so even if raw ore is found, it must be processed. The country’s choices for battery metals therefore include long-term supply agreements, investments in refining at home, and a move towards battery chemistries that use less cobalt and nickel, as in Mining and Quarrying.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Leaders and ores asked
- Current affairs Critical mineral policy
- Security Supply dependence
What Came Next?
The next topic describes copper. Next topic: Copper.
Key People and Terms
- Wolframite Tungsten ore
- Scheelite Calcium tungstate ore
- Laterite Weathered nickel-bearing ore
- Critical mineral Mineral vital for the economy with supply risk
- KABIL Khanij Bidesh India Limited
- Superalloy Alloy for extreme heat
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Tungsten has the highest melting point.
- Indonesia leads in nickel.
- Congo leads in cobalt.
- India’s nickel is at Sukinda.
- KABIL acquires minerals abroad.
Do Not Confuse With
- Wolframite and scheelite Iron-manganese tungstate versus calcium tungstate
- Nickel and cobalt Stainless steel focus versus battery and superalloy focus
- Reserves and production Underground resource versus actual output
Memory Hook
Tungsten melts last, nickel steels stain-free, cobalt charges the cell, moly toughens: Indonesia, China, Congo hold the keys.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about critical minerals and supply security. These points add depth.
- Role Steel, batteries, defence
- Gap India’s small resource
- Response Mission, KABIL, recycling
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why are minerals like nickel, cobalt and tungsten called critical? Discuss India’s vulnerabilities and the steps it has taken.”
How to Answer
- Uses Alloys, batteries, defence.
- Supply Few countries.
- India Few deposits.
- Steps Mission, KABIL, recycling.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the main ores of tungsten?
The main ores of tungsten are wolframite and scheelite. Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals, about 3,400 degrees Celsius, and is used in lamp filaments, cutting tools and heat-resistant steel. China holds the largest reserves and produces about four-fifths of the world's supply.
Where is nickel found in India?
India's main nickel resources are in the overburden of chromite deposits in the Sukinda valley of Odisha, with smaller occurrences in Jharkhand, Karnataka, Nagaland and Kerala. India has no large nickel mine, so it imports most of the nickel it needs for stainless steel and batteries.
Why is cobalt important?
Cobalt is used in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries for phones and electric vehicles, in superalloys for jet engines and in magnets. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces most of the world's cobalt as a by-product of copper mining, and India has no significant production, so it relies on imports.
Which country is the largest producer of nickel?
Indonesia is by far the largest producer of nickel, mostly from laterite ores, and has built a large processing industry by banning the export of raw ore. The Philippines, Russia, New Caledonia, Canada and Australia are other significant producers.
What are critical minerals?
Critical minerals are minerals that are essential for the economy, energy transition and defence but whose supply is at risk because they are concentrated in a few countries. India's list of thirty critical minerals, issued in 2023, includes nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and tungsten.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Tungsten has the highest melting point among metals.
About 3,400 degrees Celsius.
2 The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the leading producer of cobalt.
From the Copperbelt.
3 India has large producing mines of nickel.
Its resources are small and it imports nickel.
4 Wolframite is an ore of tungsten.
Scheelite is the other.
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