Mineral resource of the month: niobium (columbium)

Geotimes
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Abstract

It’s not just diamonds associated with conflict in Africa. Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite (a blend of niobium — also called columbium — and tantalum minerals), is linked with the recent conflicts in the Congo that involved several African countries. The metallic ore, which is processed to separate out niobium and the very valuable tantalum (see Geotimes, August 2004), is believed to be smuggled out and sold to help finance the armed conflicts.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Mineral resource of the month: niobium (columbium)
Series title Geotimes
Volume 2007
Issue December
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher AGI
Contributing office(s) National Minerals Information Center
Description HTML Document
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Geotimes
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