Tungsten is recognized as a critical metal due to its unique properties, economic importance, and limited sources of supply. It has wide applications where hardness, high density, high wear, and high-temperature resistance are required, such as in mining, construction, energy generation, electronics, aerospace, and defense sectors. The two primary tungsten minerals, and the only minerals of economic importance, are wolframite and scheelite. Secondary tungsten minerals are rare and generated by hydrothermal or supergene alteration rather than by atmospheric weathering. There are no reported concerns for tungsten toxicity. However, tungsten tailings and other residues may represent severe risks to human health and the environment. Tungsten metal scrap is the only secondary source for this metal but reprocessing of tungsten tailings may also become important in the future. Enhanced gravity separation, wet high-intensity magnetic separation, and flotation have been reported to be successful in reprocessing tungsten tailings, while bioleaching can assist with removing some toxic elements. In 2020, the world’s tungsten mine production was estimated at 84 kt of tungsten (106 kt WO3), with known tungsten reserves of 3400 kt. In addition, old tungsten tailings deposits may have great potential for exploration. The incomplete statistics indicate about 96 kt of tungsten content in those deposits, with an average grade of 0.1% WO3 (versus typical grades of 0.3–1% in primary deposits). This paper aims to provide an overview of tungsten minerals, tungsten primary and secondary resources, and tungsten mine waste, including its environmental risks and potential for reprocessing.

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Tungsten is a critical element used in the industry with increasing global demand. There are millions of tons of current and legacy mineral processing tungsten tailings worldwide that can potentially contaminate the environment and pose human health risks. These tailings could also potentially turn into valuable resources if we thoroughly characterise their geochemical composition. In this study, an innovative method was developed to achieve the complete digestion of tungsten tailings. We tested three different digestion methods (hotplate digestion, bomb digestion, and ColdBlockTM digestion) and compared the results. Additionally, an alkali fusion for major element analysis was also applied and tested. The results showed that alkali fusion is the best method for major elements analysis, while bomb digestion is the best method for tungsten and trace element analysis, but volatile chlorite loss was also observed. The hot plate digestion method for tungsten mine tailings was not recommended, because of poor recoveries of trace elements compared to the bomb digestion method. The quick and safer ColdBlockTM digestion method could be used for Bismuth (Bi), Molybdenum (Mo), and several rare earth element analyses indicated by their recoveries being close to the bomb digestion method.