About Coltan Mining
What is coltan?
Coltan is the name given to a mineral ore which contains two minerals: columbite and tantalite.
It can be refined to produce tantalum, a powder which has a melting point of 2996 degrees Celsius
Tantalum has become an important element in creating capacitors. Capacitors are devices which control the flow of electric currents inside devices like mobile phones, televisions and computers.
Coltan is a small mineral used in mobile phones and other electrical devices to keep them cool so that they don’t over heat and melt the appliance.
Only a small amount of tantalum - about 40 milligrams, is used in one mobile phone. However, there are more than 6 billion mobile phones in the world and this number will continue to increase.
Coltan is the name given to a mineral ore which contains two minerals: columbite and tantalite.
It can be refined to produce tantalum, a powder which has a melting point of 2996 degrees Celsius
Tantalum has become an important element in creating capacitors. Capacitors are devices which control the flow of electric currents inside devices like mobile phones, televisions and computers.
Coltan is a small mineral used in mobile phones and other electrical devices to keep them cool so that they don’t over heat and melt the appliance.
Only a small amount of tantalum - about 40 milligrams, is used in one mobile phone. However, there are more than 6 billion mobile phones in the world and this number will continue to increase.
Coltan can be found on every continent.
The largest amounts are in:
It is estimated that one African country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has the largest deposits: around 20% to 30% of the world total.
Coltan is actively mined in Brazil, Canada, Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and several other countries in Africa, including Ethiopia and Mozambique.
The largest amounts are in:
- Africa
- Australia
- Canada
- Brazil
- Russia
It is estimated that one African country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has the largest deposits: around 20% to 30% of the world total.
Coltan is actively mined in Brazil, Canada, Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and several other countries in Africa, including Ethiopia and Mozambique.