TungstenThe chemical element tungsten, atomic number 74, is listed as a transition metal in group VIB of the periodic table of elements. Tungsten was formerly known by the Germanic name Wolfram, named after the tungsten mineral wolframite, hence its chemical symbol W. The name tungsten is derived from the Swedish words tung and sten, meaning heavy stone, due to its high density. The discovery of the element is attributed to the Spanish brothers Fausto Jermin and the nobleman Juan Jose de Elhuyar in the early 1780s (1, 2). Tungsten is a natural element that usually occurs as a chemical compound, primarily in wolframite and scheelite ores, and very rarely in pure form. Colors range from bright white to steel gray, depending on its purity (3). The metal is known to be extremely ductile and a good conductor of heat and electricity. With the highest melting point, near 3,422 degrees Celsius, and the lowest vapor pressure of any metal, tungsten has a wide variety of uses, from the mining industry to healthcare ( 2, 3). Global tungsten consumption is mainly composed of cemented carbides or hard metals (2). As one of the hardest metals in the world, tungsten plays an instrumental role in cemented carbide tools and drill bits used for oil and gas exploration, making it invaluable to the oil, mining and metallurgical. Tungsten carbide is also used to increase the wear resistance of tool cutting edges as well as cast iron (1). The hardness of the metal along with its high tensile strength and ability to withstand extremely high temperatures make it ideal for use in filaments. in incandescent bulbs, cathode ray tubes, x-ray tubes, vacuum tube filaments and rocke...... middle of paper ......sed by the British Geological Survey (4). The high demand caused by increasingly widespread sites has led to a decrease in the supply of tungsten, straining the global tungsten market. Although the opening of previously operational mines and the search for new mines will help supplement the supply of tungsten, it will still be several years before demand is met, as it is "typically a two-year process." to three years for mines currently extracting tungsten for export.” » (4). Therefore, industries that rely on tungsten for their operation are faced with the choice of either trying to acquire a mine for their own use or working with current suppliers to achieve a fair balance to meet demand. Since purchasing a private company is not an option for most companies, the only option seems to be to encourage current suppliers to meet their needs. (4).