Columbium & Tantalum
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GM 02667 COLUMBIUM & TANTALUM QUEBEC (PROV.OF). QUEBEC DEPARTMENT OF MINES 1954 MINERAL DEPOSITS BRANCH COLUMBIUM TANTALUM Compilation by; P.E.Pelletier. i24 -47 ,: ^ fov,- COLUMBIUM AND TiNTALUM OCCURRENCE. The columbium and tantalum minerals-are, frequently found associated with granitic rocks, like the coarse pegmatites. The following minerals and mineral series provoke considerable interest its Canada. pvrochlore-Mtcroli e . •• Three of 18 analyses show a II 0gg content of over 181; these high uranium varieties hay* been called ellsworthite, and hatchettolite. In the remainder uranium and thorium are low or absent. The columbium-tantalum oxide content has a minimum of 35% but may reach 80%, „Fe r¢usonigor ate - in. all of 11 analyses both uranium . and_.thorium are low. The columbium-tantalum oxide content ranges between 40--55%. nite-Poly - only two of 13 analyses show a ïI 03 content of over 1 . Thorium is always less than 10%, The columbium-tantalum oxide content is usually between 20-30% but may reach 50%. l of 11 the g content Is less1 Five of the analysesn show thorium oxid as more than 10%. The columbium-tantalum oxide content varies between 16.55%• S s ;•_ - five of nine analeses show U308 over. l• . Thorium is always less than 10%. The columbium-tantalum oxide content varies between 43-60%, Betafite - the O8 content in eight analyses varies between 10-27%. Thoriui is always less than 1.5%. The. columbium-tantalum oxide content varies between 18-51%. These minerals have several features in common. They are all multiple oxides of columbium and tantalum; uranium, thorium and the rare earth elements are usually present. Their origin and occurrence is similar to that of uraninite in that they are primary constituents of granitic. rocks. Several of the species are common in the pegmatites of Ontario and Quebec. Columbite is found in the P!ke s Peak region in Colorado associated with microcline and complex silicate minerals resembling feldspar. It occurs together with beryl, cassiteriteg and spodumene in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Columbium .. Tantalum (coasted). The only producing mine in Canada is the DeStaffany Tantalum Beryllium Mines (property of Boreal Rare Metals Limited) on the North Shore of Great Slave Lake, about 90 air miles east of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Tantalum and columbium occur in disseminated form throughout the pegmatites and in frequent occurrences of kidney - shaped enrichments. A new 100-ton concentrates started production on December 9th, 1953. Up to a few years ago, columbite and tantalite were by-products of tin mining industry in Nigeria and Malaya. PRODUCERS OF GOLUMBITF{ AND TANTALITE CONCENTRATES IN U.S. Beryllium Mining Co., Inc., Ohio City, Colorado George C. Bland, Hill City, South Dakota. For the first six months of 1953, production has been of 1,063 pounds. WORLD PRODUCTION OF COLUMBITE AND ALTT1 See in appendix: World production of columbite concentrates, 1943-52, in pounds. World production of tantalite concentrates, in 1943-52, in pounds. BUYERS OF COLUABITE AND TANTALIT__, E~CONCENTRATES IN U.S . Ore and concentrates are accepted in small lots at the three depots of the following government agency. Emergency Procurement Service, General Service Administration, Washington, D.C. Depots: Franklin, N.H.; Spruce Pine, N.C.• Custer, S.D. In lots of 2,000 lb. or more, for domestic (U.S.) or foreign sources, the following are license` agents. Wah Chang Corporation, New-York N.Y. Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation, North Chicago,Il] Kennametal, Inc., Latrobe, Penna. Columbium - Tantalum (Cont'd). REFINERS Electrometallurgical Division, Union Carbide and Carbon, Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Producer of ferro-columbium and ferro- columbium-tantalum alloys). Fansteel Metallurgical Corp.,, North Chicago, Ill (Producer of columbium and tantalum products) Kennametal, Inc., Latrobe, Pa. (Producer of columbium and tantalum carbides). Boreal Rare Metals Corp., Cap-de-la-Madeleine, P.Q. Canada, (producer of very pure columbium and tantalum oxides) PRICES (February 25th 1954) Ores and concentrates. F.O.B. Franklin, N.H., Spruce Pine, N.C.! Custer, S.D., Minimum Cb205 - T205 in any ratio $1.70 per pound acceptable material. Concentrates over 50% combined contained pentoxides $3.40 per pound. Ferroalloys Ferrocolumbium alloys (50-60%columbium) $6.40 per pound contained columbium. Ferrocolumbium-titanium alloys (40% columbium -20% tantalum) $3.75 per pound contained Cb a Ta. Standard columbium stabilized stainless steel, type 347 $0.025 per pound. Metal Columbium metal - $280.00 per Kg. (2.2 lb.) for rod $250.00 " " " for sheet Tantalum metal - $137.00 " " " for rod If $ 93.00 " " for sheet USES Columbium in the form of metal or compounds has only slight commercial use. It is an important additive to the super- temperature alloys: it maintains strength at high temperatures, Columbium . tantalum (Cont'd) provides good resistance to creep, improves weldability and impact strength. Mostly used for parts exposed to high temperatures generated in jet engines and gas turbines (rotors, blades, tubes). Chromiummnickel-columbium steel, type 347, ix used for main lines carrying steam at 11000F in plants of the Atomic Energy Commission. Tantalum, a readily formative and highly corrosion. resistant metal, is used principally in the pure form. Considerable quantities are used in chemical industries (bromine, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide) for heat exchangers, condensers, absorption towers and other devices subject to corrosive attack. In many respects, the chemical properties of tantalum are quite similar to those of glass. Unlike glass, however, tantalum is malleable, ductile, resistant to thermal shock and is capable of high thermal conductivity. Tantalum metal. is also used in surgery for cranial plates and sutures, and in electronics for vacuum tubes, Thermocouples made of tantalum ana tungsten wires can be used for temperatures up to 3450 Tantalum oxide is an important component of silica- free optical glass for aerial photography. Kentanium, the new titanium-columbium-tantale carbide, is used in aircraft industry (nozzle vanes and blades for jet engines; valve seats and guides for high power reciprocating engines), in spinning tools for hot metal where high strength, wear resistance and good oxidation resistance are requisite. Also used for cutting tools and sheel-nosing dies. SAS OF INFORMATION Mineral !yearbook. Mineral Trade Notes. Metals and. Minerals Market Northern Mines. Engineering & Mining Journal De Ment-Dake: Rarer Metals. DMP.A INCENTIVE.:. PLAN FOR COLUMBIUM-T ANT ALUM To encourage production of columbium and tantalum, the Defense Materials Procure- ment Agency last week announced the establish- ment of a Government-guaranteed purchase pro- gram for ore and concentrates containing these metals. Under the plan, those actually producing the ore will obtain approximately double the current market price. Almost the entire supply of these metals procured by the United States goes into defense production. Columbium is an alloying element used in the production of super-alloy steels required to resist the high temperatures developed in jet aircraft; engines. Tantalum, sister element to columbium, also is used in special alloys and in the manufacture of electronic devices indispensable for military uses. Jess Larson, administrator of DMP.A, emphasized that the purpose of the program is to stimulate the search for and development of columbium and tantalum deposits both in the United ;-L'ates and abroad, and that dealers, as distinguished from producers, do:not stand to benefit from the premium prices offered by the Government. " The bonus, which amounts to 100% of the base price, is payable by the Government only to the actual producer of the ore. " Mr. Larson said. "Sellers will be required to certify as to the identity of the producer. Where the seller is not the actual producer, he will receive only the base purchase price, and the bonus will be paid to„the producer.” The price schedule as set forth in the regulation establishes a base price- of $1.1+0 per lb. of combined contained pentoxide for ores and concentrates containing a'minimum DMPA Incentive Plan for • ollo amhium-Tantalui. - continued. of 35 % of columbium and tantalum pentoxide (Cb205 plus Ta205). Provision is made in the regulation for payment of higher prices for higher grade material. The Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., North Chicago, Ill., has been designated purchasing agent for the Government under the program, and all offers of ore to the Government should be made to that company, not to DMPA. Additional agents may be named at a later time. Deliveries of ores and concentrates must be in lots of not less than 2,000 lb. of acceptable grade material. Domestic ores must be shipped f.o.b. plant of the purchasing agent, and ores of foreign origin c.i.f. Atlantic ports. Additional information may be obtained by communicating with Fansteel. Columbium and tantalum ores and concen- trates are not subject to allocation controls, and materials purchased under the program are primarily for resale to defense industries. Life of the guaranteed purchase program is until Dec. 31, 1956, or until the Govern- ment has acquired 15,000,000 lb. of columbium plus tantalum pentoxide Contained in ores and concentrates of acceptable grade, whichever occurs first. Copies of the regulation will be available either from the Defense Procure- ment Agency or Fansteel Metallurgical Corp. E&MJ Metal and Mineral Markets . June 5,19 52. COLUMBIUM-TANTALUM PURCHASES The Government purchase program for columbium-tantalzm bearing ores and concen- trates at premium prices has been extended to include small lot shipments from the smaller domestic producers, Jess Larson, ad- ministrator of the Defense Materials Procurement Agency, announed Oct. 30. The purchase program, first announced May 30, offered an incentive bonus which about doubled the current market price for these scarce ores and concentrates needed for defense production. It provided for the sale to the Government, in shipments not less than 2,000 lb., of specified grades of materials at designated shipping points.