Molybdenum ores
Molybdenum and alloys

The main molybdenum-bearing minerals are molybdenite (MoS₂), wulfenite (PbMoO₄), molybdite (FeO₃ , 3MoO₃ + H₂O), powellite [Ca(Mo, W) O₄] and a few other ores that are of no economic interest. Molybdenite is the most widespread mineral, followed by wulfenite; powellite exists only in small quantities, and is sometimes associated with scheelite (CaWO₄). Currently, only molybdenite is mined; in the past, wulfenite has contributed to substantial molybdenum production. Molybdenum is separated from scheelite ores containing powellite during the preparation of tungstic acid, but represents only a negligible fraction of production.

Molybdenite is disseminated in granitic porphyries and copper porphyries. Mineralization took place by a hydrothermal process, at different geological periods for molybdenum and copper. These...