Tungsten is an extremely hard and long-lasting material. In terms of hardness, its MOHR is only slightly less than diamonds. Due to the geological conditions required for its formation, tungsten can only be economically exploited in a few select regions. It is a material that can be used to make extremely long-lasting products. The hardness of tungsten is what makes it so valuable.
Tungsten is nearly indestructible due to its high melting point and resistance to corrosion (3,422 degrees celsius). Tungsten was studied and used as an alloy to improve steel-making processes from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. During World War II, it could be beaten when a lack of supplies forced countries to look elsewhere as tungsten substitutes or additives. Other metals such as Molybdenum, Corundum, Nickel Chromium, and Vanadium have been and are being used. In addition to tungsten, the metals mentioned above are also plagued by supply issues.
Tungsten: a Material with Many Uses
Tungsten is the material used to make the filaments in incandescent light bulbs. Additionally, it can be utilized in the production of cutting tools, industrial machinery, armor-piercing rounds, abrasives, jewelry, and various other tools and instruments, such as tungsten carbide, a compound consisting of a compound of tungsten and carbon. Due to the fact that tungsten has a high melting point, it can be utilized in both the arc-welding electrodes and the forging processes. Tungsten is a material commonly used in the production of drill bits for the oil and gas industry.
Is There Enough Tungsten to Make Cubes
According to the latest data from the U.S. Geological Survey, global mined metal production will reach 84,000 metric tons in 2020. More than 35 million 2-inch cubes are produced every year. Not including inventories or recycled materials, just based on annual output.
According to one U.S. retailer, sales of tungsten cubes have surged three or six times in the last few months, making them a popular meme asset. Customers are snapping up the large chunks of pure tungsten metal that can be purchased online in various dimensions, including crypto traders.
Tungsten is used in various ways within the mining and oil industries, ranging from drill bits to super-hard alloys and everything in between. However, to make a sizeable dent in the international market, it would be necessary to sell a significant quantity of cubes.
Conclusion
Tungsten is an extremely valuable and scarce metal, and there is less and less of it available. Because of the one-of-a-kind qualities it possesses, tungsten is a resource that holds significant value in today’s economy. Investing in tungsten exposure is one way to capitalize on the unpredictability of the market. A mining exchange-traded fund (ETF) that has indirect exposure to tungsten may be preferable to a smaller penny stock due to the fact that it reduces risk.
