Molybdenite concentrate was mechanically activated in the presence of magnesium metal using a planetary mill in order to try to form elemental molybdenum. A sample milled for 90 min in planetary mill showed almost the same structural distortion as after 50 h in a tumbling mill, neither showed the presence of molybdenum metal. However, molybdenite milled together with magnesium showed more amorphization than separately milled molybdenite. Despite the apparent lack of reaction, molybdenite showed higher solubility in dilute HCl after milling with magnesium than without.

Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 16 (42), 2015, 30-33