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Tantalum and niobium

Recent strong growth in demand for tantalum has been driven by rapid growth in the electronics industry, particularly the increasing need for tantalum capacitors.

Tantalum and niobium are always found together, usually in minerals of the tantalite–columbite series in pegmatites, granites, carbonatites and alkaline igneous rocks.

Tantalum and niobium are associated with tin-bearing aplite–pegmatite–greisen dykes in northeastern Victoria. The Walwa tinfield, including the Mount Alwa and Bounce mines, has been the largest primary tin producer in Victoria. In these deposits, leucogranites, pegmatite bodies and quartz veins containing cassiterite (SnO₂) have intruded metasediments.

Return to Victorian metals index page

Further information

• Minerals of Victoria - Geological Survey of Victoria Report 92
• Bogong dyke chemistry - Geological Survey of Victoria Unpublished Report 2003/10
• Victoria's Minerals, Petroleum and Extractive Industries - Statistical Review
• Geology of Victoria - Geological Society of Australia

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