Coltan
Videos
Coltan is a dull black metallic ore from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted. The niobium-dominant mineral in coltan is columbite, and the tantalum-dominant mineral is tantalite.
A piece of columbite–tantalite, size 6.0 × 2.5 × 2.1 cm
Rio Inírida
The mining industry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a major global supplier of minerals including cobalt, copper, diamonds, gold, tantalum, and tin. The DRC supplies over 60% of global coba
Coltan
…mobile phones, personal computers, automotive electronics, and cameras. Niobium is used in the manufacture of MRI magnets and as an additive to steel. Coltan mining is widespread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Approximately 71% of the global tantalum supply in 2008 was newly mined, 20% was from recycling…
Rubaya coltan mines
A sample from the Kolwezi area with green colored malachite containing copper and darker heterogenite containing cobalt.
Rough diamonds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their yellow color is due to the presence of impurities which absorb blue light.
Gold deposits beneath the Congolese subsoil