Tin is a soft, pliable, silvery-white metal that poses both malleability and ductility characteristics. It is mainly derived from the mineral cassiterite, which contains about eighty percent (80%) of tin.
Tin is also known as Cassiterite, Cassiterite (SnO2) is characterized as a reddish, brownish, or yellowish mineral that consists of an oxide of tin mineral (tin dioxide) and is the principal source or ore of Tin.
Tin has a symbol of Sn and is located in group 14 of the periodic table, it is also the main group metal with a melting point of 232 °C and a boiling point of 2,603 °C.
From the perspective of metallogenic types, there are two (2) main types of tin deposits that have been mined in the world-primary tin and sand tin:
The main types of primary tin deposits are as follows:
Primary tin - the tin-bearing pegmatite deposit is mainly small and medium-sized, with low tin grade, but the ore is easy to be separated and the recovery rate is high. They are mainly distributed in Africa, Brazil, Australia and other places. About ten percent (10%) of the world's tin production comes from such deposits.
The cassiterite-quartz vein deposits are mainly small and medium-sized, a few large and a few super large. This kind of deposit has high ore grade, easy separation and recovery rate of seventy to eighty percent (70% to 80%).
Most deposits can be mined in open pit and mainly distributed in Southeast Asia and Europe.
Cassiterite-sulfide deposits are mostly large and medium-sized and a few super-large. The ore contains zero point two percent (0.2%) and one point five percent (1.5%) tin, most of which are underground mining, the mineral processing process is complex, and the recovery rate is low (generally 30% to 60%).
Such deposits are mainly distributed in China, Bolivia and the northeast coastal areas of Russia.
Sand tin deposits are generally small and medium-sized, but also large and super large. The ore contains zero point zero five percent (0.05%) and zero point three percent (0.3%) tin, mostly open mining, the mineral processing process is simple, and the recovery rate is generally fifty to ninety-five percent (50% to 95%). They are mainly distributed in Southeast Asia, Central and South Africa, Australia and other places.
Tin ore is mainly used in the production of solder and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion. It is widely used in metal in the environmental and sustainability landscape, particularly in photovoltaic installations, electric vehicles, and electronics.
In 2020, the top importers of tin ores were Malaysia ($321M), Thailand ($161M), China ($137M), Vietnam ($10.6M), and United Arab Emirates ($9.61M).
In 2020, the top exporters of tin ores were Australia ($120M), Republic of the Congo ($103M), Nigeria ($86.9M), Democratic Republic of the Congo ($65.4M), and Kenya ($43.7M).
The tin market size was estimated at over three hundred and eighty-seven (387) kilotons in 2021, and the market is projected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over two point five percent (2.5%) during the forecast period (2022-2027).
The market was negatively impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. Tin dealers have been experiencing one of the most severe squeezes in the metals market ever as COVID-19 spurs a surge in demand as supply falters.
In the first half of 2021, demand for tin used in electronics surpassed supply, driving a more than ninety percent (90%) price increase on the London Metals Exchange. However, the market is expected to grow at a steady rate in the forecast period (2022-2027).
Tin Ore mineral deposit was discovered in Nigeria, West Africa by Sir William Wallace in the year 1884, who was as of then works with the National African Company. Tin was and is still being produced by the natives of Plateau, Abuja, and Bauchi State.
Tin deposits occur in two distinct provinces in Nigeria.The older suite is related to Pan-African pegmatite belt. This Sn-Ta-Nb mineralized pegmatite belt stretches for over four hundred (400) kilometers from southwestern (Ijebu area) to northern Nigeria (through Wamba-Jema’a to Zuru-Gusau areas).
The later stage mineralization is hosted by granites of ring complexes of Jurassic age known as Younger Granites. In the Younger Granites, Sn-Nb-Ta mineralisation is associated with late-stage peraluminous granites both as disseminations and in veins and greisens.
