Ore Deposits and Reserves

The map in Fig. 2.4 reveals that known tungsten deposits are scattered over all the continents with the exception of Antarctica. The various types of these deposits can be assigned to three macrotectonic units Precambrian, Paleozoic orogenic belts, and Mesozoic-Terdary orogenic belts. 

Deposits of the Mesozoic-Tertiary orogenic belts are the most abundant. Eighty-seven percent of the reserves, or 93% of the potential reserves, are located in these areas (orogenic belts of flie American Cordillera-Andes, Alpes, Central Asia, Malaysia, and East Asian Islands). These belts can be regarded as the most important areas for tungsten mining and also for further prospects. 

The second most abundant deposits can be found in Paleozoic otogenic belts. They represent about 10% of the reserves, or 6% of the potential reserves. 

Wolframite. About one-third of the knownworld tungsten reserves are hydrothermal wolframite-bearing veins and pegmatites. One may distinguish between three different types of this species  

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