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The article discusses developments in the supply of two scarcest metals, tantalum and columbium, in the U.S. in March 1953. It cites the importance of the two metals for high temperature steel alloys used in jets, rockets and power plants among others. It talks about the discovery of columbium in Canada, the expansion of the Fansteel Metallurgical Corp.'s North Chicago plant in Illinois for tantalum recovery from lower-grade ores and residues, and the production of low-carbon ferrochrome by Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. to cut down on columbium use.

Reports that gorillas in the Congo are being illegally hunted to obtain tantalum, or coltan, a common substance used in cellular telephones. Reasons why the Grauer's gorillas are specifically being killed; Use of coltan in the capacitors that store energy in cellphones.

The article provides news briefs current for August 15, 1931. The latest in very hard cutting tools is tantalum carbide, a new check writer that prints through a ribbon yet shreds the paper for full protection is a big advance in the technology, and electrical insulating material can now be made from sugar, molasses, or glucose.

Discusses the economics and technology of tantalum materials. Tantalum manufacturing; Melting and purification; Texture control and sputtering performance. INSET: At a Glance.

The article reports on the theft of a cargo of columbo-tantalite (coltan), while it was either on the way to or in the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in August 2015, according to the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Centre (TIC). Topics discussed include the exporting of the Rwandan-origin cargo from Kigali to Xinhui in China via Tanzania, the discovery of concrete blocks instead of coltan when the material arrived in China, and prevention of buying stolen tantalum under TIC policy.

Australian explorer Pilbara Minerals has raised A$6.465 million ($4.9 million) to finance the fast-track development of its tantalum projects, it said on Monday June 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

German technology metals supplier HC Starck suffered an 18% drop in revenue year-on-year in 2013 because of "weaker overall economic development and declining demand", the company has said. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the expansion plan of Interalloys, an Austria-based trading house, into the rare earths and tantalum market in 2013. Ajit Misra, managing director at Interalloys, describes the market timing of the company's move and the market price status of rare earth and tantalum metals. He also cites the company's status as an established international player in alloys market. He explains the market objective and business model of the company.

The article reports that the Supermetals business of Cabot Corp. has been acquired by Global Advanced Metals Pty. Ltd. (GAM). The acquisition will allow GAM to form a vertically integrated global tantalum products group. Andrew O'Donovan will serve as president of GAM Technology, the new name of the Supermetals business.

The article discusses a report on conflict minerals released by the United Nations (UN). According to the report, there remains a challenge in the tin and tantalum industries in central Africa as trade of minerals continue to be linked to the financing of armed group in the region. A new U.S. legislation lists tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold as conflict minerals.

The article reports that electronic component producer AVX was able to create more than a year's supply of tantalum in an effort to prevent any shortage due to increasing prices and concerns about availability. Price of tantalum have increased since early 2010 as electronic demand increase and concerns about the U.S. regulations on mineral trading from conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arise.

The article reports on the request by tantalum suppliers for their customers to sell back their scrap or risk not being supplied with the material they need. The attempts of suppliers to take firmer control of the flow of materials are reportedly due to tightening availability in a market where metal has more than trebled in value since the start of 2010. Information on the negotiations between Intel, Honeywell Electronic Materials, and H.C. Starck is also offered.

The article reports on the negotiations being held by Global Advanced Metals (GAM) to acquire the tantalum processing business of Cabot Corp. GAM is the owner of the Wodgina mine and Greenbushes processing plant in Western Australia and is regarded as the world's leading tantalum producer. The acquisition is expected to result in a significant change in the structure of the industry if concluded, according to market participants.

The article reports on an offtake contract renegotiated by Mozambique-based tantalum producer Noventa with HC Starck. Particular focus is given to the revised pricing arrangement of the contract, along with the uses of tantalum in the electronics industry. There is a plan by Noventa to expand the output at its Marropino mine to 600,000 pounds annually. Also included are information on the recovery rate of Noventa's Marropino in June 2011.

The article reports on the decision of Advanced Metallurgical Group (AMG) to commit its whole tantalum concentrate operation until the end of 2012. According to the company, its Advanced Metals Division obtained supply deals at fixed prices based on levels as of March 2011. The company announced that it is considering measuees to enhance production capability of the MIBRA tantalum mine in Brazil. Market sources disclosed that tantalum metal prices have risen more than fourfold in the past twelve months.

The article reports on the reopening of the Wodgina tantalum mine and Greenbushes processing plant of Global Advanced Metals in Western Australia in January 2011. The mine, which was closed in 2008 due to the decrease in electronics demand, expected to help balance global inventory levels. Bryan Ellis, chief executive officer of Global Advanced Metals, claimed that the reopening of the mine could halt price increases in the tantalum sector.

The article deals with the reopening of the Wodgina and Greenbushes project of Global Advanced Metals in Western Australia. The company is expecting to make its first delivery to clients in summer 2011, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bryan Ellis. The Wodgina mine and the processing facility in Greenbushes were placed on care and maintenance amidst the financial crisis of 2008. Ellis is predicting that they will have new production of tantalum pentoxide in the marketplace and arriving at clients in the late second quarter of 2011.

The article reports on the call of Itri and the Tantalum-Niobium Study Group (TIC) for downstream tin and tantalum market participants to contribute to a traceability scheme as the deadline for the implementation of U.S. rules around conflict minerals approaches. The aims of the scheme are to promote a responsible supply chain and prevent funds generated by the trade of metal from contributing to conflict in the region. The U.S. rules will require consumers to prove the provenance of the material they use.

The article reports that the guidelines on conflict minerals to be released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) are expected to support the U.S. Dodd Frank Reform Bill. Tantalum market participants are awaiting the guidelines which will likely address the controversy around mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Under the guidelines, any country that flouts the rules, or whose industry cannot prove the safe origin of its material, will not be able to trade with other members.

The article reports on the new offtake contract signed by Noventa with a new tantalum consumer believed to be HC Starck. The company's other leading consumer is Cabot in which the company also signed an exclusive agreement, thus excluding Cabot from the new deal. Within six months, the prices of tantalum rose to an estimated 300-330 dollars kilogram due to rules imposed by the United Nations concerning the supply of material from conflict zones.

The article reports on the alleged failure of a tantalum supplier to deliver materials under a contract that amounts to 1.8 million U.S. dollars. The default has forced three buyers to return to the market which led to high prices. Another factor that reportedly pushed up prices was United Nations (UN) laws concerning the supply of material from conflict zones.

This article reports on the decision of the U.S. Defense National Stockpile Center to suspend the sale of six metals and reduce the availability of seven others in 2008. The DNSC made the move in response to plans to reconfigure its metal stockpiles. The suspension covers sales of zinc, tin, iridium, platinum, tantalum carbide powder and columbium metal ingot.

Reports that the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association warned its members to avoid using tantalum ore mined in violation of environmental restrictions in Congo. Industrial uses of tantalum; Percentage of the world's tantalum supply which comes from Africa.

The article focuses on the report of Patrick Stratton of Roskill Information Services Ltd. which claimed that there will be a tightness in the supply of tantalum capacitors in 2011 and 2012 due to sharp cutbacks in tantalum ore mining. The report also revealed that the demand for tantalum will decrease in 2009 and 2010, but will grow afterwards. It also compares tantalum capacitors with other capacitors used in industries. Jim Wright also explained the advantages of tantalum capacitors.

Forecasts the stability of prices and lead time for tantalum capacitors in the U.S. through the first quarter of 2005. Factor to be considered by capacitor suppliers in maintaining price levels; Expectation on the performance of the tantalum supply chain; Increase in unit demand for tantalum capacitors.

Reports the decline of the price of tantalum capacitors in the United States. Effect of inventory in the supply chain on the prices; Use of tantalum capacitors in A and B case sizes in cell phones; Price of tantalum powder.

Reports on the impact of the war over tantalum ore on the environment and civilian population in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2001. Report from the United Nations on the illicit tantalum trade; Exploitation of the tantalum mining industry by the Rwandan army and rebels; Accusations against tantalum powder supplier H.C. Starck.

Examines the implication of the supply increase of tantalum in line with the diminishing demand for capacitors among electronic component manufacturers. Estimated prices of tantalum as of May 2001; Details on the complaints against United States tantalum producers for allegedly endangering African wildlife preserves; Estimated production of tantalum capacitor producers.

Presents several news briefs about the metal industry in the United States (U.S.) as of September 2000. Details on the study completed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the finances of the U.S. Enrichment Corp.; Legislative bill on the permanent normalized trade relations with China; Legislative proposal to redesign U.S. coins; Demand on the purchase of tantalum and powder metals in the market.

The article reports that customers have been urged by tantalum suppliers to sell back their scrap or risk not receiving deliveries of the material they need. Since the start of 2010, tantalum price has increased to more than 500 U.S. dollars per kilogram amid tightening supply conditions. Particular focus is given to negotiations between Intel, Honeywell Electronic Materials and HC Starck on the sale of used targets.

The article reports that market participants are convinced that the strength of tantalum prices will not be affected by the reopening of Global Advanced Metals' (GAM) Wodgina tantalum mine and Greenbushes processing plant in Western Australia. GAM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bryan Ellis, believes that the Wodgina restart will not drag tantalum prices or hold back the pace of increases. Ellis relates the production targeted for Wodgina. Wodgina and Greenbushes were idled in 2008 due to a slump in electronics demand caused by the financial crisis.

The article looks at the decision of Gippsland Ltd. to leave the Tantalum Niobium International Study Centre (TIC) due to allegations that some members are involved in trade of metals from conflict zones. The directors of Gippsland claims that the TIC no longer represents the interests of the majority of the tantalum miners. Gippsland says tantalum is being used to finance the war. Jack Telford and Richard Burt of Gippsland comments on the resignation of the company.

The article reports on that China's Ningxia Non-Ferrous purchased approximately three-quarters of CIF Fluminense's tantalite production in the second half of 2020. A source revealed that Ningxia acquired 75 percent of Brazil's output for 80 U.S. dollars after rejecting an offer of material from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The market responded to such purchasing deal as an opportunity to assess the extent to which the tantalum market has moved to stop dealing with material from DRC.

The article offers a look at the market for tantalum in western countries.

The article reports on the expectations of tantalum producers on the Abu Dabbab tantalum-tin project of Gippsland when it comes online in 2012. According to Gippsland Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Telford, the project will set a new standard for the cash cost of tantalum production. The project is considered the answer to the tantalum supply problem encountered by leading consumers HC Starck and Cabot. Telford said that most Canadian projects are low in tantalum and expensive in mine.

The article reports on the increase in prices of tantalum products which may have been caused by the failure of a tantalum supplier to deliver materials worth as much as 1.8 million U.S. dollars as of June 14, 2010. According to well-placed market sources, the three buyers were forced back into the market that helped drive the prices up. Each buyer was reported to have lost two tonnes of tantalum supply, but it could be more than that, a source confirms.