Columbite

Columbite

1. Color: dark black, iron-black to dark brown Luster: submetallic Transparency: nearly opaque being transparent in thin splinters Crystal Habits: stubby prismatic crystals with complexly faceted or rounded terminations Cleavage: good in one direction Hardness: 6 Streak: brown to black Other Characteristics: Some specimens may demonstrate weak magnetism.

2. Columbite is the most widespread niobium mineral and makes for an important ore of the industrially useful metal. Niobium, Nb, is used in alloys for improved strength. It also has shown superconductive properties and is being studied with other metals for a possible breakthrough alloy in this new industrial field.

3. The U.S. consumed 9,200 metric tons if Columbite in 2011, according to the US Geological Survey.

Papp, John F. "Niobium (Columbium) and Tantalum Statistics and Information." //USGS Minerals Information//. US Department of the Interior. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. [].

"The Mineral Columbite." //COLUMBITE (Iron Manganese Magnesium Niobium Tantalum Oxide)//. Amethyst Galleries, Inc. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. [].

(Laura Gibbs)

4. Columbite is mainly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Statistics show that approximately 80% of the world's columbite is extracted from the DRC. Columbite is mined by hand in the Congo. Workers dig basins in streams by scraping off the surface mud. Next, they agitate the water, causing the ore to settle at the bottom of the crater to be collected by the miners.

5. Columbite is a very rare mineral. In the Congo, approximately one kilogram is extracted each day.

6. Tantalum/ Columbite is often difficult to substitute, but it can be exchanged with Platinum.

Burt, Richard. //Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center//. Tech. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. .

Gruey, Lyndsey. "The Mineral That Started a War, Tantalite-columbite." //Lyndsey Gruey//. Cochise College, 2006. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. .

(Lauren Brown)