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Ore mineral

Columbite-Tantalite (coltan)

A solid-solution series: niobium-rich at one end, tantalum-rich at the other. Source of both metals, and a designated conflict mineral.

What it is

A solid-solution series: niobium-rich at one end, tantalum-rich at the other. Source of both metals, and a designated conflict mineral.

Materials that come from it

Material	Role	Grade note
Niobium	Secondary	—
Tantalum	Principal ore	—

Niobium

A metal that makes steel much stronger when added in tiny amounts — a few hundred grams per tonne changes the whole…

Aerospace & Defence MaterialsNb

Tantalum

A dense metal whose oxide layer stores charge extremely reliably, which is why it is in the capacitors of anything…

Aerospace & Defence MaterialsTa

Columbite-Tantalite (coltan)

What it is

Materials that come from it

Niobium

Tantalum

Materials

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