BusinessSeptember 4, 2026
tantalite
TAN-tuh-lite
Definition
A dense, dark-colored mineral consisting of iron and manganese tantalite, which is the primary source of the metal tantalum.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek mythological figure Tantalus, because of the mineral's chemical resistance and the difficulty chemists faced in dissolving it to extract the element tantalum.
In the news
In this article, tantalite is mentioned as one of the minerals often found alongside cassiterite in complex deposits, highlighting the need for technology that can distinguish between these associated materials.
New ore sorting technology sees inside cassiterite
Read the full article ↗International Tin Association