What is coltan used for?
Coltan is used primarily for the production of tantalum capacitors, used in many electronic devices. Coltan is important in the production of mobile phones; tantalum capacitors are used in almost every kind of electronic device. Niobium and tantalum have a wide range of uses, including refractive lenses for glasses, cameras, phones and printers.
What are the properties of refined coltan?
When coltan is refined it becomes a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electric charge. The properties of refined coltan is a vital element in creating devices that store energy or capacitors, which are used in a vast array of small electronic devices, especially in mobile phones, laptop computers, pagers, and other electronic devices.
How is coltan mined?
It is often mined by hand Coltan may be an important mineral when it comes to the construction of electronics, but as mentioned above, the methods used to mine it are not cutting edge at all. Coltan is often mined by hand by artisanal miners, with rock and sand being panned and filtered until the mineral sinks to the bottom.
What is another name for tantalite and coltan?
Coltan (short for columbite–tantalites and known industrially as tantalite) is a dull black metallic ore from which the elements niobium and tantalum are extracted. The niobium-dominant mineral in coltan is columbite (after niobium's original American name columbium ), and the tantalum-dominant mineral is the tantalite.
What is coltan worth?
In 2018 and 2019, the average price of Coltan prices was $23.85/kg and $36/kg respectively. Depending on the percentage of tantalum concentrate in the coltan, the mineral traded in the range of $35 and $52.50 per kilogram in 2021 in Congo.
Is coltan still used in phones?
When talking about the materials of which mobile phones are made, we often hear silicon, plastic, aluminum, and iron — but not coltan. Despite the critical role that it plays in electronic devices, including our phones, it's a component that is almost unheard of among laymen.
Where is coltan mined in the world?
the Democratic Republic of CongoApproximately 80% of the world's supply of Coltan is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Coltan is mined by hand in the Congo. Their methods are very similar to how gold was mined in California during the 1800s. Groups of men dig basins in streams by scraping off the surface mud to get the Coltan below.
Is coltan harmful to humans?
Over thousands artisanal workers are exposed to Coltan in the mines (most of them being young). However, very little is known about its human toxicity as well as the toxicity induced by the elements the mineral may contain such as pegmatite rock, radioactive sources namely Uranium, Thorium and Radium.
Who is buying coltan?
Societe Miniere de Bisunzu Sarl, the Democratic Republic of Congo's biggest coltan miner, resumed purchases of the ore after a three-month shutdown at one of the country's largest deposits.
Does Apple use coltan?
Apple believes it constitutes a “downstream” company in that Apple or its suppliers purchase cassiterite, columbite-tantalite (coltan), wolframite, gold, or their derivatives, which presently are limited to tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold related materials after processing by smelters or refiners.
Can coltan be recycled?
Innocent deaths, environmental damage, and the current use of coltan can all be reduced. All that you need to do is recycle your old electronics such as computers, cameras, and cell phones. Many manufacturers will allow you to return your old electronics by mail or at drop-off centers.
How much coltan is in a mobile phone?
In average, 20 to 30 minerals come into the composition of a smartphone. Tin, Gold, Tungsten, Copper, Palladium are examples. Tantalum (Ta), extracted from the ore Coltan, is another. What is so special to Tantalum?
Is coltan magnetic?
Coltan mineral from México. Columbite and tantalite. (Fe, Mn)Nb2O6 and (Fe, Mn)Ta2O6. Coltan from México exhibits Magnetic and SHG properties useful for further applications in electro-optical-magneto devices.
Is coltan found in the US?
Coltan is mined through a fairly primitive process similar to how gold was mined in California during the 1800s. Dozens of men work together digging large craters in streambeds, scraping away dirt from the surface in order to get to the coltan underground.
Why is coltan important?
Coltan is used primarily for the production of tantalum capacitors, used in many electronic devices. Coltan is important in the production of mobile phones; tantalum capacitors are used in almost every kind of electronic device.
Who owns the coltan mines in the Congo?
As of 2018, coltan's main producers are Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Brazil and China. Australia, Canada and Mozambique are also important players. Thus, the task of supplying world coltan needs has fallen largely on conflict regions and underdeveloped countries.
How much coltan is in a mobile phone?
In average, 20 to 30 minerals come into the composition of a smartphone. Tin, Gold, Tungsten, Copper, Palladium are examples. Tantalum (Ta), extracted from the ore Coltan, is another. What is so special to Tantalum?
Is coltan found in the US?
Coltan is mined through a fairly primitive process similar to how gold was mined in California during the 1800s. Dozens of men work together digging large craters in streambeds, scraping away dirt from the surface in order to get to the coltan underground.
Can coltan be recycled?
Innocent deaths, environmental damage, and the current use of coltan can all be reduced. All that you need to do is recycle your old electronics such as computers, cameras, and cell phones. Many manufacturers will allow you to return your old electronics by mail or at drop-off centers.
What mineral is used in cell phones?
Lithium: Can the world's supply of this soft, silvery white chemical element keep up with the huge demand for use in electronic devices such as mobile phones? Lithium is primarily used in the production of mobile-phone batteries. It is mined from salt lakes and hard-rock ore.
It’S Where Tantalum and Niobium Come from
Coltan, or columbite-tantalite, is an ore from which niobium and tantalum are extracted. As a report from the US Geological Survey notes, the miner...
Coltan Provides The Tantalum Used in Smartphones
About two-thirds of tantalum is used to construct electronic capacitors, a fundamental component of cell phones and other electronics. Tantalum has...
It’S Harmful For Gorillas
Coltan mining has also caused significant destruction of gorilla habitats in the DRC. As Cellular News notes, “the U.N. Environment Program has rep...
What are some interesting facts about coltan?
Here are five key facts about coltan you need to know, including where it’s mined, what it’s used for and why it’s important. You may not have heard of coltan before, but it’s one of the key raw materials found in the technological products you use every day. From smartphones to laptops to advanced medical equipment, ...
How is coltan mined?
Coltan is often mined by hand by artisanal miners, with rock and sand being panned and filtered until the mineral sinks to the bottom. This process was common during the gold rush in the mid-1800s.
What is the mineral that is used to make tantalum?
It’s where tantalum and niobium come from. The mineral coltan is one of the resources that is playing an important role in the technological revolution. Coltan ore itself is a vessel for technology minerals tantalum and niobium. Coltan , or columbite tantalite, is an ore from which niobium and tantalum are extracted.
What is tantalum used for?
It provides the tantalum capacitors used in smartphones. Roughly two-thirds of tantalum is used to manufacture electronic capacitors, a fundamental component of smartphones and other in-demand electronics.
Why is tantalum used in electronics?
Due to its high thermal conductivity , about two-thirds of tantalum is used in electronic capacitors, a fundamental component of cellphones and other modern technologies. Tantalum's high melting point and corrosion resistance are also critical properties for use in superalloys. Because it causes no immune response in humans, the metal is also used in surgical appliances as a replacement for bone, as a connector of torn nerves and as a binding agent for muscles.
How much did the Rwandan army make from the sale of coltan?
A 2001 Amnesty International report says, “By one estimate, the Rwandan army made at least US$250 million over a period of 18 months through the sale of coltan, even though no coltan is mined in Rwanda.”. And demand for the technological material has only grown in the almost two decades since.
Why is coltan used in surgical appliances?
Because it causes no immune response in the human body, it is also used to make surgical appliances, as a replacement for bone, as a connector of torn nerves and as a binding agent for muscles. 3. What is coltan? It is often mined by hand.
What is coltan powder?
The Congo possesses 64 percent of the world’s coltan. When coltan is refined it becomes a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electric charge. The properties of refined coltan is a vital element in creating devices that store energy or capacitors, which are used in a vast array of small electronic devices, especially in mobile phones, laptop computers, pagers, and other electronic devices.
What are the properties of refined coltan?
The properties of refined coltan is a vital element in creating devices that store energy or capacitors, which are used in a vast array of small electronic devices, especially in mobile phones , laptop computers, pagers, and other electronic devices. Who are the primary exploiters of Coltan in the Congo?
What companies are part of the Coltan exploitation chain?
These companies include but are not limited to Germany’s HC Starc and EPCOS, China’s Nigncxia, and Belgium’s Traxys and George Forrest International.
What companies use coltan?
Once the coltan is processed and converted to capacitors, it is then sold to companies such as Nokia, Motorola, Compaq, Alcatel, Dell, Hewlett-Packard , IBM, Lucent, Ericsson and Sony for use in a wide assortment of everyday products ranging from cell phones to computer chips and game consoles.
Is Coltan mined in Congo?
Although the countries mentioned above directly exploit coltan, foreign multi-national corporations have been deeply involved in the exploitation of coltan in the Congo. The coltan mined by rebels and foreign forces is sold to foreign corporations. Although, the United Nations in its reports on the Congo do not directly blame ...
What is coltan?
It is a mineral present in many countries in the southern hemisphere that is in turn composed of two different minerals: columbite (COL), made up of niobium oxide, iron and magnesium, and tantalite (TAN), tantalum oxide, iron and magnesium. The combination of these two minerals also gave rise to its name.
What is coltan used for?
The boom in portable technology in the world led to new research on elements that had never been used in technology before. An example of this is the use of coltan. Extractions from coltan mines began in the 1990s but reached their peak at the beginning of the 21st century .
Coltan mines
In a study carried out in 2008, it was extracted that more than 70% of the coltan that had been used in recent years came from recently extracted material, which makes us clearly see the coltan fever that we are experiencing.
What do you need to know about coltan?
Five things you need to know about coltan. It’s used by almost everybody in smart phones and consumer electronics, and there is no simple way to keep conflict coltan out of the stream of legitimate minerals used by manufacturers. It’s used by almost everybody in smart phones and consumer electronics, and there is no simple way to keep conflict ...
Why is Central African coltan considered a conflict mineral?
Most Central African coltan is considered conflict mineral because mining areas are controlled by armed factions and organized crime. It’s the same in the South American jungles where Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil meet and where officials say they’ve found vast coltan reserves. 4. There is no simple way to keep conflict coltan out of the stream ...
Is Coltan a good mineral for smart bombs?
As new technologies emerge and produce new devices, demand will grow. There is no ready substitute. 2. Coltan’s ability to hold and move electrical signals, and its conductive ability in extreme temperatures, makes it ideal for smart bomb guidance controls. Security analysts say it is a strategic mineral.
Is there a way to keep conflict coltan out of the stream of legitimate minerals used by manufacturers?
It’s used by almost everybody in smart phones and consumer electronics, and there is no simple way to keep conflict coltan out of the stream of legitimate minerals used by manufacturers . 1.
What Is Coltan?
Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite, is a conflict mineral that is usually mined by hand. It’s a grayish, metallic ore that may look like just an ordinary rock to you. But for those with an eye for it, it’s a precious soil deposit that makes technological advances run.
Where does the majority of the Coltan come from?
Nowadays, the majority of the coltan supplies come from Africa, specifically in Congo and Rwanda. With coltan mining being a viable option to earn more than what most Rwandan and Congolese households do, this trend is expected to continue. But as the demand for the mineral grew, global organizations have unearthed serious problems in the coltan industry in the said countries.
What are the problems of colonite-tantalite mining?
Among the pressing issues that are partly brought about by columbite-tantalite mining are exploitation, environmental degradation, and even civil wars. There are other factors that contribute to lawlessness in Congo and Rwanda, but the unregulated coltan industry has, in a way, enabled rebel groups. Since the trade of coltan and tantalum is not strictly regulated in these countries, companies in need of the mineral are free to buy from anyone, may it be from legitimate state actors or informal sectors. The high value of coltan became a source of revenue for unlawful forces.
What are tantalum capacitors?
Basically, tantalum capacitors are coltan’s final form that you will see should you decide to cut your phone open. They look like pellets that have markings on them. But, what exactly are their uses for your phone?
Where is coltan mined?
Coltan mining has also found its way to some parts of South America like Colombia and Venezuela. Both countries, however, had a difficult time cleaning up coltan mining because of the interference of smugglers and cartels.
Which country produces the most colomite talite?
Australia was initially the largest producer of columbite-tantalite in the world, closely followed by Canada and Brazil. In 2006 alone, the three countries had an 80% share of total columbite-tantalite produce. However, their production of coltan went downhill following environmental regulations and unsuccessful mining company buyouts.
Is Coltan invisible?
Coltan is almost invisible when we buy our smartphones . While it can do wonders for our mobile companion, it’s a grim reality that it harms lives in many ways you don’t know.
What is coltan made of?
Coltan is a dull black metallic ore consisting of two minerals, columbite and tantalite. When refined, the tar-like coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat-resistant powder that holds a high electrical charge. These characteristics make tantalum a crucial component in the manufacture of capacitors, energy-storing components that control current flow in circuit boards. Tantalum capacitors are a vital part of many electronic devices, particularly mobile phones, laptops and pagers. The capacitors are also used in other products such as electric cars, optical equipment, and due to its ability to conduct electricity in extremely high temperatures, smart bomb guidance systems. The mineral is also perfect for medical equipment and surgical appliances such as bone replacements, binding agents for muscles and connectors for damaged nerves, since it does not cause an immune response in people.
Where is the most coltan found?
The Great Lakes region in Africa is the largest producer of coltan in the world, particularly the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with that country accounting for about 30 percent of the world supply. Other African nations such as Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are also sources of the ore. Outside of Africa other major providers are of Coltan include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia and Venezuela.
Why is coltan difficult to control?
Because coltan, unlike conflict diamonds, has no “geo-fingerprints” it is difficult to control its flow and keep conflict minerals out of the legitimate stream. American and European companies have sought certification of the substance, which proves difficult if China and India, the world’s largest coltan users, fail to participate in the process. Some companies have demanded that the coltan they buy comes from nations such as Australia and Brazil. The Dodd-Frank Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in 2010 requires manufacturers to know the source of materials in their supply chain. However, the Trump administration chipping away at Dodd-Frank casts doubt on the fate of supply chain compliance. In 2016, the European Union reached an understanding on supply chain due diligence on conflict minerals, after years of negotiations and activist campaigns.
What are capacitors used for?
The capacitors are also used in other products such as electric cars, optical equipment, and due to its ability to conduct electricity in extremely high temperatures, smart bomb guidance systems.
Where is coltan oil available?
Outside of Africa other major providers are of Coltan include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia and Venezuela. Everyone wants their smartphones, and multinational corporations need coltan, making it the new oil or a “black gold” of sorts at around $123 per kilogram ($56 per pound) on the open market.
Which countries have little or no coltan?
Neighboring countries in Central Africa participate in the exploitation as well. The organization noted that while Uganda and Rwanda have little or no coltan, their exports of the mineral increased exponentially during the military conflict in the DRC.
Who is profiting from the Coltan?
Aside from the rebels, militias and organized crime organizations are profiting from control of coltan, foreign corporations exploit the country for its minerals without paying billions of dollars in taxes.
What is the Coltan used for?
Coltan is used in the production of electronic devices including cellphones and DVD players. ( (Ariana Cubillos/Associated Press))
What devices are used in the Coltan?
Human rights observers charge that coltan, used in electronic devices such as cellphones, DVD players, video game systems and computers, has been directly linked to financing civil wars in Africa, especially in the DRC.
What is the name of the metal that holds the charge?
Coltan, also known as columbite-tantalite, is a dull black metallic mineral containing the elements niobium and tantalum. Tantalum , a heat-resistant material that can hold a strong electrical charge, is used to make capacitors used in a wide variety of electronic devices, from cellphones to nuclear reactors.
Who is forced to mine coltan?
Men, women and children are said to be forced at gunpoint to mine coltan that is then shipped out of the country at huge profits.
Is Coltan a mineral?
Coltan: a new blood mineral. The controversy surrounding blood diamonds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made headlines over the past decade, but a relatively obscure mineral is also prompting international concern. The controversy surrounding blood diamonds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made headlines over ...
