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Tantalus-Project
Rare Earths
- Introduction
- Importance
- Applications
- Tantalum & Niobium
- Zirconium & Hafnium
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Other Rare Metals

Tantalum & Niobium

Besides rare earth elements, the Tantalus mineralisation hosts a number of other rare metals in economic quantities. The occurrence of rare earth elements together with other rare metals is very common in this kind of geological setting. The average grades of the Tantalus Project are, however, exceptional. For example, the tantalum grades at Tantalus are comparable or even higher than those of running mines or projects in the development phase.

Tantalum

columbite, a Nb-Ta oxide The metal tantalum (atomic number 73) is found as a major constituent or in trace amounts in over 90 different minerals. Despite being mineralogically incorrect, all tantalum ores are grouped together, for practical reasons, under the collective name “tantalite” because their main objective is the recovery of tantalum.

Almost two thirds of the world’s requirement for tantalum is consumed by the electronics industry.

Tantalum-based components are in demand in the armament industry, the aerospace industry, in the construction of artificial limbs, joints, and bones, and for equipment and control units in medicine. They are also needed for highly corrosion-resistant parts.

Over the past few decades, the demand for tantalum has risen annually by 8 to 12 %. Further steady rises in demand are anticipated.

Niobium

Niobium The metal niobium (atomic number 41, originally called “columbium” and, in many cases, still confusingly referred to as “columbium”) is used in the manufacture of high performance alloys. Such alloys are used in the production of turbines, thrust bearings, high-speed bearings, combustion chambers, superconductors, pressure-resistant and heat-resistant parts as well as all types of wear-resistant components.

To date, deposits have been found in Russia, Brazil, Canada, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

However, Brazil is controlling 90 % of the world production resulting in dependencies.

The Tantalus project could therefore help to break this quasi-monopoly.