Coltan

A piece of columbite–tantalite, size 6.0 × 2.5 × 2.1 cm

Coltan or tantalite (short for columbite–tantalites) is a valuable ore. It can be made into the elements niobium and titanium. Coltan is a mixture of two minerals, columbite and tantalite.

Tantalum from coltan is used to make tantalum capacitors which are used for mobile phones, personal computers, automotive electronics, and cameras. Coltan mining is widespread in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

References

↑ Tantalum-Niobium International Study Centre, Coltan, archived from the original on 2016-01-14, retrieved 2008-01-27
↑ "Commodity Report 2008: Tantalum" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
↑ Congo: war-torn heart of Africa, December 1, 2008, archived from the original on 2013-08-25, retrieved 2012-10-18
↑ Breaking the Silence- Congo Week, December 15, 2009, archived from the original on 2011-07-25, retrieved 2011-10-11
↑ "The VICE Guide to Congo | VICE United States". Vice.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
↑ Söderberg, Mattias (2006-09-22), Is there blood on your mobile phone?, archived from the original on 2012-01-13, retrieved 2009-05-16
↑ "IRC Study Shows Congo's Neglected Crisis Leaves 5.4 Million Dead; Peace Deal in N. Kivu, Increased Aid Critical to Reducing Death Toll". 22 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.

[1] Tantalum-Niobium International Study Centre, Coltan, archived from the original on 2016-01-14, retrieved 2008-01-27

[USGSCR08-2] "Commodity Report 2008: Tantalum" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2008-10-24.

[3] Congo: war-torn heart of Africa, December 1, 2008, archived from the original on 2013-08-25, retrieved 2012-10-18

[4] Breaking the Silence- Congo Week, December 15, 2009, archived from the original on 2011-07-25, retrieved 2011-10-11

[5] "The VICE Guide to Congo | VICE United States". Vice.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2013-04-29.

[phoneblood-6] Söderberg, Mattias (2006-09-22), Is there blood on your mobile phone?, archived from the original on 2012-01-13, retrieved 2009-05-16

[7] "IRC Study Shows Congo's Neglected Crisis Leaves 5.4 Million Dead; Peace Deal in N. Kivu, Increased Aid Critical to Reducing Death Toll". 22 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.