Pyrochlore concentrate (niobium mine operation and beneficiation - from pyrochlore ore)

Emissions generated by the activity within the product supply chain as described in ecoinvent v3.10. The product pyrochlore concentrate (63% Nb2O5) is an intermediate product occurring during the processing of the pyrochlore (Na Ca)2Nb2O6(OH F) which is mineral group of niobium. The pyrochlore ore is mined beneficiated and the undergoes carbothermic reduction to produce a refined pyrochlore concentrate. This concentrate serves as input for the aluminothermic reduction that produces Ferroniobium (66% Nb) the most principal product of the niobium production chain. The cut-off classification is allocatable product. The activity type is ordinary transforming activity. The reference product amount is 1.