Molybdenum -
History, Deposit and Extraction

First tries using nitric acid and getting elemental molybdenum this way out of changing molybdenum sulfide to molybdenum trioxide were done in 18th century.
A long time nobody took care about molybdenum material caused by this costly method to extract it.
New interest was raised when end of 19th century it was found in France that molybdenum could bring good results in making cladding sheets for armoured vehicles.

Molybdenum in its natural kind is usually found

as MoS₂

with natural concentrations of around 0,3 percent. Besides there are also found

Powellite (Ca, Mo, W)O₄ and/or
Wulfenite (PbMo₄)

in mother nature. In todays reality in metallurgical working

MoS₂

is used, as it is found as an unavoidable side product in copper mining, and the quantities of it can more than fully satisfy actual market needs for molybdenum.

As told above caused by the low natural concentrations extreme volumes have to be mined in order to get molybdenum material.
So we can find

a) surface mining using really big areas and

b) classic deep mining, where boulders get so many drill holes that material collapses under its own weight.

The next extraction steps please find below as separate links.