India is presently witnessing the huge investments in chip manufacturing for cellular and electronic industries.

Columbite-tantalite which is also known as coltan, this group of minerals containing niobium and tantalum, is found in pegmatite deposits in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. These minerals serve as essential components in various applications, including capacitors, superconductors, alloys, and surgical instruments. Their significance extends to industries such as aerospace, defense, and nuclear, where niobium and tantalum play critical roles in enhancing technological capabilities.

We have access to large coltan mines in South America as well as in some in DRC

Coltan will produce tantalum as well as niobium metals which are further refined to produce powders and solid metals for specific applications for electronics industry from the tantalum. While from niobium parts that can withstand very high temperature such as in nuclear power plant, helicopters, aircraft, rockets, spacecrafts use niobium. Niobium is also used for plating high end jewelry to prevent allergy from gold.